Evaluating the use of strontium isotopes in tree rings to record the isotopic signal of dust deposited on the Wasatch Mountains

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Publication Type pre-print
School or College College of Mines & Earth Sciences
Department <blank>
Creator Solomon, Douglas Kip
Other Author Miller, Olivia L.; Fernandez, Diego P.; Cerling, Thure; Bowling, David R.
Title Evaluating the use of strontium isotopes in tree rings to record the isotopic signal of dust deposited on the Wasatch Mountains
Date 2014-01-01
Description Dust cycling from the Great Basin to the Rocky Mountains is an important component of ecological and hydrological processes. We investigated the use of strontium (Sr) concentrations and isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) in tree rings as a proxy for dust deposition. We report Sr concentrations and isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) from atmospherically deposited dust, soil, bedrock, and tree rings from the Wasatch Mountains to investigate provenance of dust landing on the Wasatch Mountains and to determine if a dust Sr record is preserved in tree rings. Trees obtained a majority of their Sr from dust, making them a useful record of dust source and deposition. Dust contributions of Sr to soils were more than 94% over quartzite, 63% over granodiorite, and 50% over limestone. Dust contributions of Sr to trees were more than 85% in trees growing over quartzite, 55% over granodiorite, and between 0% and 92% over limestone. These findings demonstrate that a dust signal was preserved in some tree rings and reflects how Sr from dust and bedrock mixes within the soil. Trees growing over quartzite were most sensitive to dust. Changes in Sr isotope ratios for a tree growing over quartzite were interpreted as changes in dust source over time. This work has laid the foundation for using tree rings as a proxy for dust deposition over time.
Type Text
Publisher Elsevier
Volume 50
First Page 53
Last Page 65
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Miller, O. L., Solomon, D. K., Fernandez, D. P., Cerling, T., & Bowling, D. R. (2014). Evaluating the use of strontium isotopes in tree rings to record the isotopic signal of dust deposited on the Wasatch Mountains. Applied Geochemistry, 50, 53-65.
Rights Management (c) Elsevier ; Authors manuscript from Miller, O. L., Solomon, D. K., Fernandez, D. P., Cerling, T., & Bowling, D. R. (2014). Evaluating the use of strontium isotopes in tree rings to record the isotopic signal of dust deposited on the Wasatch Mountains. Applied Geochemistry, 50, 53-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2014.08.004.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 3,096,708 bytes
Identifier uspace,19092
ARK ark:/87278/s6z92nhn
Setname ir_uspace
ID 712758
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6z92nhn
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