|
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
| JOURNAL HOME | HELP | CONTACT PUBLISHER | SUBSCRIBE | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
1 Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK
2 Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
The Atacama Desert forms one of the major hyperarid deserts of the world. Previous studies suggest that desertification commenced at 14 Ma during global climate desiccation. Sedimentologic data from middle Miocene to upper Pliocene successions in the modern Atacama Desert indicate that a semiarid climate persisted from 8 to 3 Ma, punctuated by a phase of increased aridity at ca. 6 Ma. As such, hyperaridity did not commence until the late Pliocene. Implications are (1) that the rain shadow generated by the Andean Cordillera has had a minor influence on climate change, and (2) that the upwelling, north- flowing, cold Humboldt Current, although important in establishing the generally arid climate of western South America, did not control the shift to hyperaridity. The formation of the hyperarid Atacama Desert in the late Pliocene accompanied the development of the current phase of aridification in the Sahara and Namib Deserts and is attributed to a phase of global climate cooling.
Key Words: Atacama • desertification • Chile • Andes • climate change
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. P. Loveless, R. W. Allmendinger, M. E. Pritchard, J. L. Garroway, and G. Gonzalez Surface cracks record long-term seismic segmentation of the Andean margin Geology, January 1, 2009; 37(1): 23 - 26. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A. Evenstar, A. J. Hartley, F. M. Stuart, A. E. Mather, C. M. Rice, and G. Chong Multiphase development of the Atacama Planation Surface recorded by cosmogenic 3He exposure ages: Implications for uplift and Cenozoic climate change in western South America Geology, January 1, 2009; 37(1): 27 - 30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. RAGAINI, C. DI CELMA, and G. CANTALAMESSA Warm-water mollusc assemblages from northern Chile (Mejillones Peninsula): new evidence for permanent El Nino-like conditions during Pliocene warmth? Journal of the Geological Society, December 1, 2008; 165(6): 1075 - 1084. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. Warren, D. A. Archibald, and S. F. Simmons GEOCHRONOLOGY OF EPITHERMAL Au-Ag MINERALIZATION, MAGMATIC-HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION, AND SUPERGENE WEATHERING IN THE EL PENON DISTRICT, NORTHERN CHILE Economic Geology, June 1, 2008; 103(4): 851 - 864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Tooth Arid geomorphology: recent progress from an Earth System Science perspective Progress in Physical Geography, February 1, 2008; 32(1): 81 - 101. [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Molnar and M. A. Cane Early Pliocene (pre Ice Age) El Nino like global climate: Which El Nino? Geosphere, October 1, 2007; 3(5): 337 - 365. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Charchaflie, R. M. Tosdal, and J. K. Mortensen Geologic Framework of the Veladero High-Sulfidation Epithermal Deposit Area, Cordillera Frontal, Argentina Economic Geology, March 1, 2007; 102(2): 171 - 192. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Rech, B. S. Currie, G. Michalski, and A. M. Cowan Neogene climate change and uplift in the Atacama Desert, Chile Geology, September 1, 2006; 34(9): 761 - 764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. J. Moore, A. Tye, and R. K. Jansen Patterns of long-distance dispersal in Tiquilia subg. Tiquilia (Boraginaceae): implications for the origins of amphitropical disjuncts and Galapagos Islands endemics Am. J. Botany, August 1, 2006; 93(8): 1163 - 1177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.A. Walsh and D.M. Martill A possible earthquake-triggered mega-boulder slide in a Chilean Mio-Pliocene marine sequence: evidence for rapid uplift and bonebed genesis Journal of the Geological Society, July 1, 2006; 163(4): 697 - 705. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. Kober, F. Schlunegger, G. Zeilinger, and H. Schneider Surface uplift and climate change: The geomorphic evolution of the Western Escarpment of the Andes of northern Chile between the Miocene and present Geological Society of America Special Papers, January 1, 2006; 398(0): 75 - 86. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. E. Mather and A. J. Hartley The application of drainage system analysis in constraining spatial patterns of uplift in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile Geological Society of America Special Papers, January 1, 2006; 398(0): 87 - 99. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Arancibia, S.J. Matthews, and C. Perez de Arce K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of supergene processes in the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile: tectonic and climatic relations Journal of the Geological Society, January 1, 2006; 163(1): 107 - 118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. P. Loveless, G. D. Hoke, R. W. Allmendinger, G. Gonzalez, B. L. Isacks, and D. A. Carrizo Pervasive cracking of the northern Chilean Coastal Cordillera: New evidence for forearc extension Geology, December 1, 2005; 33(12): 973 - 976. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Palacios, N. Guerra, B. Townley, A. Lahsen, and M. Parada Copper geochemistry in salt from evaporite soils, Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert, northern Chile: an exploration tool for blind Cu deposits Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, November 1, 2005; 5(4): 371 - 378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J. HARTLEY, G. CHONG, J. HOUSTON, and A. E. MATHER 150 million years of climatic stability: evidence from the Atacama Desert, northern Chile Journal of the Geological Society, May 1, 2005; 162(3): 421 - 424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. J. Dunai, G. A. G. Lopez, and J. Juez-Larre Oligocene-Miocene age of aridity in the Atacama Desert revealed by exposure dating of erosion-sensitive landforms Geology, April 1, 2005; 33(4): 321 - 324. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. W. Allmendinger, G. Gonzalez, J. Yu, G. Hoke, and B. Isacks Trench-parallel shortening in the Northern Chilean Forearc: Tectonic and climatic implications Geological Society of America Bulletin, January 1, 2005; 117(1-2): 89 - 104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. E. Mather and A. Hartley Flow events on a hyper-arid alluvial fan: Quebrada Tambores, Salar de Atacama, northern Chile Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2005; 251(1): 9 - 24. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J. Hartley, A. E. Mather, E. Jolley, and P. Turner Climatic controls on alluvial-fan activity, Coastal Cordillera, northern Chile Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 2005; 251(1): 95 - 116. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. D. Hoke, B. L. Isacks, T. E. Jordan, and J. S. Yu Groundwater-sapping origin for the giant quebradas of northern Chile Geology, July 1, 2004; 32(7): 605 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Houston and D. Hart Theoretical head decay in closed basin aquifers: an insight into fossil groundwater and recharge events in the Andes of northern Chile Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, May 1, 2004; 37(2): 131 - 139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Houston and J. Houston High-resolution sequence stratigraphy as a tool in hydrogeological exploration in the Atacama Desert Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, February 1, 2004; 37(1): 7 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J. Hartley and ADRIANJ. HARTLEY Andean uplift and climate change Journal of the Geological Society, January 1, 2003; 160(1): 7 - 10. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Bissig, T. Bissig, A. H. Clark, J. K.W. Lee, and C. J. Hodgson Miocene Landscape Evolution and Geomorphologic Controls on Epithermal Processes in the El Indio-Pascua Au-Ag-Cu Belt, Chile and Argentina Economic Geology, August 1, 2002; 97(5): 971 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| JOURNAL HOME | HELP | CONTACT PUBLISHER | SUBSCRIBE | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
