Quaternary glaciation, ice dynamics, and paleoclimate, U.S. Rocky Mountains

Project involves field mapping of late Quaternary glacial and proglacial features and paleoglaciological reconstructions of alpine glaciers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The principal aim of the project is the use of paleoglaciology — equilibrium line reconstructions, ice flow dynamics, mass and energy balance modeling — to yield information on regional late Pleistocene to Holocene climatic change.

 

Glacial cirques, Colorado Front Range, north from the Berthoud Pass area

Funded Research:

  • “RUI: Collaborative Research: Glaciation and Climate Change in the Rocky Mountains During the Last Glacial Maximum and the Subsequent Deglaciation”

Award Nos: EAR-1024838 and EAR-1024852
PIs: Eric Leonard and Benjamin J. Laabs, SUNY, College at Geneseo
September 15, 2010 to August 31, 2014.

 

Publications:

(*denotes Colorado College student co-author)

  • Quirk, B.J., Huss, E., Laabs, B.J.C., Leonard, E.M., Licciardi, J.M., Plummer, M.A., Caffee, M.W., 2022. Late Pleistocene glacial chronologies and paleoclimate in the Northern Rocky Mountains, western Montana, U.S.A. submitted to Climate of the Past 18, 293-312. http://httrs/doi.org/cp-18-293-2022
  • Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., Refsnider, K.A., Dolan, P. 2021., Climate on the Blanca Massif, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Colorado, USA, during the Last Glacial Maximum. Quaternary 4. https://doi.org/10.3390/quat4030027

  • Schweinsberg, A.D., Briner, J.P., Licciardi, J.M., Shroba, R.R., Leonard, E.M., 2020. Cosmogenic 10Be exposure dating of Bull Lake and Pinedale glaciations and deglaciation in the upper Arkansas River valley, Colorado Rocky Mountains, U.S.A. Quaternary Research 97. http://doi: 10.1017/qua.2020.21.

  • Laabs, B.J.C., Licciardi, J.M., Leonard, E.M., J.M., Marchetti, D.W., Munroe, J. S., 2020. Updated cosmogenic chronologies of Pleistocene mountain glaciation in the western United States and associated paleoclimate inferences. Quaternary Science Reviews 242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106427

  • Tulenko, J.P., Caffee, W., Schweinsberg, A.D., Briner, J.P., Leonard, E.M., 2020. Delayed and rapid deglaciation of alpine valleys in the Sawatch Range, southern Rocky Mountains, USA. Geochronology 2, 1-11.  http://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-2-1-2020

  • Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B.J., Schweinsberg, A.D., *Russell, C.M., Briner, J.P., Young, N.E., 2017. Glaciation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA, following the last glacial maximum.  Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica 43, 497-526. http://doi.org/10.18172/cig.3234
  • Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B.J.C., *Kroner, R.K., Plummer, M.A., Brugger, K.A., Refsnider, *K.A., Spiess, V.M., Caffee, M.W., 2017. Late Pleistocene glaciation and deglaciation in the Crestone Peaks area, Colorado Sangre de Cristo Range – chronology and paleoclimate. Quaternary Science Reviews 158, 127-144. doi: 10.1016/jquascirev.2016.11.024
  • Schweinsberg, A.D., Briner, J.P., Shroba, R.R., Licciardi, J.M., Leonard, E.M., Brugger, K.A., and *Russell, C.M., 2016. Pinedale glacial history of the upper Arkansas River valley: New moraine chronologies, modeling results, and geologic mapping. In Unfolding the Geology of the West, Keller, S.M., and Morgan, M.L., (eds.), Geological Society of America Field Guide 44, pp. 335-353, doi: 10.1130/2016.0044(14).
  • Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., Carrara, P.E., 2014, Numerical modeling of the Snowmass Creek paleoglacier, Colorado: implications for climate in the Rocky Mountains during the Bull Lake glaciation (MIS 6). Quaternary Research 82, 533-541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2014.03.001
  • Miller, I.M., Pigati, J.S., Anderson, R.S., Johnson, K.R., Mahan, S.A., Ager, T.A., Baker, R.G., Blaauw, M., Bright, J., Brown, P.M., Bryant, B., Calamari, Z.T., Carrara, P.E., Cherney, M.D., Demboski, J.R., Elias, S.A., Fisher, D.C., Gray, H.J., Haskett, D.R., Honke, J.S., Jackson, S.T., Jiménez-Moreno, G., Kline, D., Leonard, E.M., Lifton, N.A., Lucking, C., McDonald, H.G., Miller, D.M., Muhs, D.R., Nash, S.E., Newton, C., Paces, J.B., Petrie, L., Plummer, M.A., Porinchu, D.F., Rountrey, A.N., Scott, E., Sertich, J.J.W., Sharpe, S.E., Skipp, G.L., Strickland, L.E., Stucky, R.K., Thompson, R.S., and Wilson, J., 2014, A high-elevation, multi-proxy biotic and environmental record of MIS 6-4 from the Ziegler Reservoir fossil site, Snowmass Village, Colorado, USA.  Quaternary Research, 82, 618-634. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2014.07.004
 
  • Young, N.E., Briner, J.P., Leonard, E.M., Licciardi, J.M., Lee, K, 2011, Assessing climatic and non-climatic forcing of Pinedale glaciation and deglaciation in the western United States, Geology, v. 39, No. 2, p. 171-174.
  • McCalpin, J.P., Briner, J., Young, N., Leonard, E., Ruleman, C., 2010, Quaternary geology and geochronology of the uppermost Arkansas valley: glaciers, ice dams, landslides, floods: Crestone Science Center Field Guide 6, 50 p.
  • Refsnider, K.A., Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., McCalpin, J.P., *Armstrong, P.P., 2009, Last glacial maximum equilibrium-line altitude trends and precipitation patterns in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, southern Colorado, USA. Boreas 38, 663-678. DOI: 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2009.00097.x.
  • Leonard, E.M., 2007, Modeled patterns of Late Pleistocene glacier inception and growth in the Southern and Central Rocky Mountains, USA: sensitivity to climate change and paleoclimatic implications. Quaternary Science Reviews 26, 2156–2166.
  • Leonard, E.M., 1989, Climatic change in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: estimates based on modern climate at late Pleistocene equilibrium lines: Arctic and Alpine Research 21, 245–255.
  • Leonard, E.M., 1984, Late Pleistocene equilibrium-line altitudes and modern snow accumulation patterns, San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Arctic and Alpine Research 16, 65–76.

Abstracts:

Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., Refsnider, K.A., Dolan, P., 2021, Glaciation of the Blanca Massif, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Colorado, during the Last Glacial Maximum: implications for climate. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.

Tulenko, J.P., Caffee, W., Schweinsberg, A.D., Briner, J.P., Leonard, E.M., 2019, Rapid and synchronous deglaciation of three adjacent alpine valleys in the Arkansas River Valley, CO at the Heinrich Stadial 1/Bølling transition. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.

Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A. Laabs, B.J., 2019, The significance of interannual variability for paleoclimatic reconstructions from moraine sequences. International Union for Quaternary Research, XXth International Congress.

Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B.J., Plummer, M.A. 2018, Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) climate variability along the crest of the U.S. Rocky Mountains – insights from numerical modeling. American Geophysical Union 2018 Fall Meeting Abstract.

Laabs, B.J., Leonard, E.M., Liccardi, J.M., Munroe, J.S., 2018, Cosmogenic chronologies of Late Pleistocene glacial maxima along the crest of the Rocky Mountains, U.S.A. American Geophysical Union 2018 Fall Meeting Abstract.

Schweinsberg, A.D., Briner, J.P., Licciardi, J.M., Leonard, E.M., Shroba, R.R., Caffee, W., 2017, A detailed chronology of the last deglaciation developed from 10Be dating of moraines and bedrock in the upper Arkansas River valley, Colorado Rocky Mountains, U.S.A. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.

Laabs, B.J., Liccardi, J.M., Marchetti, D.W., Munroe, J.S., Leonard, E.M., 2017, Cosmogenic nuclide exposure age limits on the penultimate glaciation in the conterminous western U.S. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.

Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B.J., Plummer, M.A. 2017, How important is interannual variability in the climatic interpretation of moraine sequences? American Geophysical Union 2017 Fall Meeting Abstract.

*Russell, C.M., Leonard, E.M., 2016, CRN Dating and Numerical Glacier Modeling to Investigate Climate During the Last Glacial Maximum, and the Subsequent Deglaciation, Sawatch Range, Colorado. American Geophysical Union 2016 Fall Meeting Abstract.

Laabs, B.J., Licciardi, J.M., Leonard, E.M., Munroe, J.S., 2015, Identifying signals of Late Pleistocene climate change from cosmogenic 10Be chronologies of moraines in the western U.S. American Geophysical Union 2015 Fall Meeting Abstract.

Laabs, B.J., Licciardi, J.M., Leonard, E.M., Munroe, J.S., 2014, Cosmogenic 10Be exposure ages of terminal moraines in the western U.S.: reconsidering production rates and climate changes accompanying the last deglaciation. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
 
Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B.J., Plummer, M.A., 2014, Numerical modeling of Rocky Mountain paleoglaciers – insights into the climate of the last glacial maximum and the subsequent deglaciation. American Geophysical Union 2014 Fall Meeting Abstract.
 
Leonard, E.M., *Spiess, V.M., Laabs, B.J., Plummer, M.A., Refsnider, K.A., Brugger, K.A., Caffee, M.C., 2014, chronology and climate of the last glaciation and deglaciation in the Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado. American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 23ed biennial meeting.
 
*Crawford, E.E., Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., 2013, Two distinct estimates of Last Glacial Maximum climate On the Pikes Peak massif, Front Range, central Colorado, using numerically modeled 2d paleoglacier reconstructions, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
 
Spears, A.J., Laabs, B.J., Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., Caffee, M.W., 2013, Cosmogenic exposure dating and numerical modeling of the Pleistocene South Fork Deep Creek valley glacier, northern Absaroka Mountains, Montana. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
 
Laabs, B.J., Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., Quirk, B., Wistort, M.W., Caffee, M.W., 2013, A cosmogenic 10Be chronology of the last Pleistocene glaciation in the northernmost U.S. Rocky Mountains and inferences of climate change. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
 
*Gall, R.D., Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., 2013, Numerical modeling of the Middle Boulder Creek paleoglacier in the Colorado Front Range: insights into LGM paleoclimate and post-LGM rates of climate change. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
 
Licciardi, J.M., Laabs, B.J., Pierce, K. L., Munroe, J.S., Leonard, E.M., 2013, Review of the timing, extent, and climatic significance of western U.S. mountain glaciation during the penultimate (marine isotope stage 6) glacial maximum. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs.
 

Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., Carrara, P.E., 2013, Numerical modeling of the Snowmass Creek paleoglacier, Colorado: implications for Middle and Late Pleistocene climate in the Rocky Mountains. American Geophysical Union 2013 Fall Meeting Abstract.
Leonard E.M., Laabs, B., Refsnider K., Plummer, M.A., 2012, Changing precipitation regimes and patterns of LGM glaciation in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. Quaternary International 279-280, 276-277.
 
Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., 2012, Numerical modeling of the Snowmass Creek paleoglacier and preliminary estimates of glacial maximum climate: Program and Abstracts of First Snowmastodon Science Team Meeting, Denver Museum of Nature and Science Technical Report 2012-5, 19.
 
Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B.J.C., Plummer, M.A., Huss, E., *Spiess, V.M., *Mackall, B.T., Jacobsen, R.E., and Quirk, B., 2012, Climate along the crest of the US Rocky Mountains during the last glaciation: preliminary insights from numerical modeling of paleoglaciers. American Geophysical Union 2012 Fall Meeting Abstract PP51A-2106.
 
Huss, E., Laabs, B.J., Leonard, E.M., Licciardi, J.M., Plummer, M.A., Caffee, M.W. (2012) Pace of glacial retreat and limits on paleoclimate conditions for the Pine Creek Glacier, Montana, during the Pinedale Glaciation. American Geophysical Union 2012 Fall Meeting Abstract C53A-0823.
 
Quirk, B., Laabs, B.J., Leonard, E.M., Caffee, M.W., 2012, Cosmogenic 10Be Exposure Age for the Cut Bank Creek terminal moraine, Glacier National Park, MT. American Geophysical Union 2012 Fall Meeting Abstract C53A-0824.
 
*Mackall, B.T., and Leonard, E.M., 2011, Estimates of the Last Glacial Maximum climate of the Snowy Range, southern Wyoming, using numerically modeled paleoglacier reconstructions, Abstracts with Program, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 43.
 
Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B., Refsnider, K., Plummer, M.A., 2011, Changing precipitation regimes and patterns of LGM glaciation in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. Abstract, XVIII INQUA Congress, Bern.
 
Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., Lee, K., *Bush, M.A., 2011, Discharge estimates for a glacial outburst paleoflood on the upper Arkansas River, Colorado, from an ice-dam failure model: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 43.
 
Leonard, E.M., Laabs, B.J.C., Refsnider, K.A., Plummer, M.A., *Jacobsen, R.E., Wollenberg, J.A., Plummer, M.A., 2010, Last Glacial Maximum Climate in the Central Rocky Mountains, USA: Eos Trans. AGU, 91 ( ), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract PP1.
 
 
Briner, J.P., Young, N.E., Leonard, E.M., Lee, K., 2010: A New 10Be Chronology of Late Pleistocene moraines and glacial outburst flood terraces in the upper Arkansas River Valley, Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 42.
 
Jacobsen, R.E., Leonard, E.M., Plummer, M.A., 2010: Last Glacial Maximum Climate in the souternmost Rocky Mountains, USA: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 42.
 
Young, N.E., Briner, J.P., Leonard, E.M., Licciardi, J., and Lee, K., 2010, Assessing climatic and non-climatic forcing of Pinedale glaciation and deglaciation in the western U.S.: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 42.
 

Brugger, K.A., Refsnider, K.A., Leonard, E.M., 2009, Late Pleistocene climate on the Blanca Massif, Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 41, 640.

Leonard, E.M., Brugger, K.A., Refsnider, K.A., *Wollenberg, J.A., Plummer, M.A., 2008, Last Glacial Maximum Climate in the Central Rocky Mountains, USA: Eos Trans. AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract PP13B-1452.

Refsnider, K.A., Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., McCalpin, J.P., *Armstrong, P., 2007, Late Pleistocene equilibrium line altitude trends and precipitation distribution in the Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 39, 79-80.

*Armstrong, P.P., Leonard, E.M., MacGregor, K., 2007, Late Pleistocene glacier dynamics and paleoclimate in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 503.

Brugger, K.A., Refsnider, K.A., Leonard, E.M., McCalpin, J.P., 2007, Late Pleistocene equilibrium–line altitudes and climate on the Blanca Massif, Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 79.

Leonard, E.M., Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., Armstrong, P., 2007, Estimates of climate at the last glacial maximum (LGM) in the Colorado Rockies: convergence of results from different paleoglaciological approaches: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 82.

Refsnider, K.A., Brugger, K.A., Leonard, E.M., McCalpin, J.P., Armstrong, P., 2007, Late Pleistocene equilibrium line altitude trends and precipitation distribution in the Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs 39, 79.

Leonard, E.M., 2006, Climatic and Topographic Controls on Inception and Growth of Late Pleistocene Glaciation in the Southern and Central Rocky Mountains, USA: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 19th biennial meeting, 105.

Leonard, E.M., 2006, Late Pleistocene glaciation in the southern and Middle Rocky Mountains, USA: climatic controls, chronology, and paleoclimate: Abstracts Volume –– INQUA Workshop: Timing and Nature of Mountain Glaciation, from High Asia to the World, p. 25.

Leonard, E.M., 2004, Late Pleistocene Glaciation and Paleoclimate in the Rocky Mountains: insights From GIS Analysis: American Geophysical Union Abstracts.

Leonard, E.M., Panfil, M.S., Merritts, D.J., Muriceak, D.R., Carson, R.J., MacGregor, K.C, and McMillan, S.A., 1994, Late Pleistocene ice-dammed lakes, drainage diversion, and outburst flooding — upper Rio Grande Drainage, San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 26, 25–26.

Leonard, E., Merrits, D., Carson, R. 1993, Quaternary geology, upper Rio Grande Drainage, San Juan Mountains, Colorado: Sixth Keck Research Symposium in Geology (abstracts volume), 170–172.

Leonard, E.M., 1992, Late Pleistocene moisture sources in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, deduced from paleo equilibrium line altitudes and modern snow accumulation patterns: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 12th biennial meeting, 70.

Leonard, E.M. and McCoy, W.D., 1990, An energy balance model of the late Pleistocene Middle Boulder Creek Glacier, Colorado Front Range: Geological Society of America Abstract with Programs 22, 19.

Zielinski, G.A. and Leonard, E,M,, 1989, Lacustrine sediment record of late Holocene periglacial activity in the upper Spruce Creek Valley, Tenmile Range, Colorado, U.S.A.: Canadian Quaternary Association Abstracts, 51.

Leonard, E.M. 1988, Estimates of late Pleistocene to Holocene climatic change in the Colorado Rocky Mountains: American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 10th biennial meeting, 131.

Leonard, E.M., *Huston, M.M., and *Manley, A.E., 1986, Ice dynamics modeling of Rocky Mountain paleoglaciers – methods, results, and paleoclimatic inferences: Geological Society of America Abstract with Programs 18, 671.

Leonard, E.M., 1979, Topography and glaciation in the San Juan Mountains and Front Range, Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstract with Programs 11, 277.

Comments are closed.