{"title":"Rejection of Holliday et al.'s alleged refutation of the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis","authors":"Martin B. Sweatman , James L. Powell , Allen West","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104960","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104960","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We reject the claim of Holliday et al. (2023) that they have “comprehensively refuted” the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis (YDIH). Scores of peer-reviewed articles in dozens of peer-reviewed journals from hundreds of researchers, many of whom were not members of the core research team of Firestone et al. (2007), have corroborated the YDIH and replicated the key evidence dozens of times (Powell, 2022; Sweatman, 2021). Refuting a hypothesis that is so well established should require compelling new evidence and a plausible alternative process. Holiday et al. (2023) offer neither but, instead, question the peer-reviewed evidence supporting the hypothesis. Many of their arguments are faulty and were already rebutted in earlier reviews. The remaining differences in interpretation are part and parcel of science and do not lend themselves to the refutation—that is, the falsification—of an active hypothesis. Words alone cannot do that, not even the 96,000 words of Holiday et al. (2023). Only evidence can.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 104960"},"PeriodicalIF":10.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ming Li , Xue Zhou , Congguang Zhang , Zhi Zhang , Tianfei Yu
{"title":"Advancing the frontiers of CO2 geological storage: A statistical and computational perspective","authors":"Ming Li , Xue Zhou , Congguang Zhang , Zhi Zhang , Tianfei Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104906","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104906","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This discussion addresses a recent systematic review by Zhang and Arif on the residual trapping capacity of subsurface systems for geological CO<sub>2</sub> storage, published in <em>Earth-Science Reviews</em>. The discussion highlights the critical role of residual trapping in ensuring long-term CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration. Utilizing statistical methods and computer theory, the study examines measurement techniques, influencing factors, and future prospects. Methodological concerns, such as reliance on published datasets and the need for advanced statistical analyses, are identified. The discussion suggests improvements in statistical robustness and computer modeling techniques in research. Future directions include incorporating machine learning for data analysis and enhancing simulation models for better CO<sub>2</sub> storage predictions. This comprehensive evaluation underscores the significance of rigorous analytical methods in advancing the field of CO<sub>2</sub> geological storage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 104906"},"PeriodicalIF":10.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mylène Jacquemart , Samuel Weber , Marta Chiarle , Małgorzata Chmiel , Alessandro Cicoira , Christophe Corona , Nicolas Eckert , Johan Gaume , Florie Giacona , Jacob Hirschberg , Roland Kaitna , Florence Magnin , Stephanie Mayer , Christine Moos , Alec van Herwijnen , Markus Stoffel
{"title":"Detecting the impact of climate change on alpine mass movements in observational records from the European Alps","authors":"Mylène Jacquemart , Samuel Weber , Marta Chiarle , Małgorzata Chmiel , Alessandro Cicoira , Christophe Corona , Nicolas Eckert , Johan Gaume , Florie Giacona , Jacob Hirschberg , Roland Kaitna , Florence Magnin , Stephanie Mayer , Christine Moos , Alec van Herwijnen , Markus Stoffel","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic climate change is rapidly altering high mountain environments, including changing the frequency, dynamic behavior, location, and magnitude of alpine mass movements. Here, we review three decades of scientific literature (<span><math><mo>∼</mo></math></span>1995 to early 2024) to assess to what degree observational records from the European Alps – as the region with the most comprehensive records – reveal these changes. We do this for the processes that are most common in this region, namely rockfall, rock avalanches, debris flows, ice avalanches, and snow avalanches. The systematic literature search and review yielded 335 publications, of which we omitted publications that did not focus primarily on observational records. The remaining 103 publications used observations from over 100 sites and 30 inventories to investigate the connection between climate change and mass movements. About one third of the relevant studies found a measurable impact of climate change on the investigated alpine mass movement processes (with the exception of large rock avalanches). The clearest climate-controlled trends are (i) increased rockfall frequency in high-alpine areas due to higher temperatures, (ii) fewer and smaller snow avalanches due to scarcer snow conditions at low and mid elevations, and (iii) a shift towards avalanches with more wet snow and fewer powder clouds. While there is (iv) despite a clear increase in debris-flow triggering precipitation, debris-flow activity has not been found to uniformly increase, though there is some evidence for increasing activity above treeline and at locations without historical precedence. The trends for (v) ice avalanches are spatially very variable with no clear direction. Ice temperatures are measurably increasing, but – despite a theoretical expectation – this has not impacted ice avalanche activity to date. The reviewed literature also reveals that quantifying the impact of climate change on these mass movements remains difficult in part due to the complexities of the natural system, but also because of limitations in the available datasets, confounding effects, and existing statistical processing techniques. Better assessments could be achieved if we would more broadly support the compilation and maintenance of large standardized data catalogs, bring together various dispersed datasets (in said catalogs), including from social and citizen science projects, invest in long-term natural observatories, and develop suitable processing techniques. Better observations will additionally support the development and performance of process-based models. If we can advance natural hazard research on these fronts, more quantitative predictions of future change are well within our reach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 104886"},"PeriodicalIF":10.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vance.T. Holliday , Tyrone L. Daulton , Patrick J. Bartlein , Mark B. Boslough , Ryan P. Breslawski , Abigail E. Fisher , Ian A. Jorgeson , Andrew C. Scott , Christian Koeberl , Jennifer R. Marlon , Jeffrey Severinghaus , Michail I. Petaev , Philippe Claeys
{"title":"Rebuttal of Sweatman, Powell, and West's “Rejection of Holliday et al.'s alleged refutation of the Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis”","authors":"Vance.T. Holliday , Tyrone L. Daulton , Patrick J. Bartlein , Mark B. Boslough , Ryan P. Breslawski , Abigail E. Fisher , Ian A. Jorgeson , Andrew C. Scott , Christian Koeberl , Jennifer R. Marlon , Jeffrey Severinghaus , Michail I. Petaev , Philippe Claeys","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104961","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104961","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We stand by our original review. There is no support for a cosmic-origin catastrophe at ~12,850 cal years BP. There is also no support that at ~12,850 cal years BP human populations diminished, late Pleistocene megafauna were wiped out or reduced, and an unique global climate change occurred. The comments are largely built around the same claims we previously rebutted (and rebut here again) based on a broad range of scientific research published in long-standing and recognized journals on impact cratering and mineralogy/geochemistry, as well as late Quaternary geology, paleoclimatology, paleobiology and archaeology. Evidence and arguments purported to support the YDIH involve flawed methodologies, inappropriate assumptions, incomplete comparisons, overgeneralizations, misstatements of fact, misleading information, unsupported claims, irreproducible observations, misinterpretation of fundamental data, logical fallacies, and selected omission of contrary information. These issues are discussed within broader themes in the conduct of scientific research. The burden of proof is on the developers and supporters of the YDIH to critically test their own hypothesis and to fully respond to a large, diverse body of critiques, observations and contradictory evidence. To date, they have failed to do this.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 104961"},"PeriodicalIF":10.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Brahney , R.C. Heindel , T.E. Gill , G. Carling , J.M. González-Olalla , J. Hand , D.V. Mallia , J.S. Munroe , K. Perry , A.L. Putman , S.M. Skiles , B.R. Adams , Z. Aanderud , S. Aarons , D. Aguirre , K. Ardon-Dryer , M.B. Blakowski , J.M. Creamean , D. Fernandez , H. Foroutan , T. Merrill
{"title":"Dust in the Critical Zone: North American case studies","authors":"J. Brahney , R.C. Heindel , T.E. Gill , G. Carling , J.M. González-Olalla , J. Hand , D.V. Mallia , J.S. Munroe , K. Perry , A.L. Putman , S.M. Skiles , B.R. Adams , Z. Aanderud , S. Aarons , D. Aguirre , K. Ardon-Dryer , M.B. Blakowski , J.M. Creamean , D. Fernandez , H. Foroutan , T. Merrill","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104942","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104942","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The dust cycle facilitates the exchange of particles among Earth's major systems, enabling dust to traverse ecosystems, cross geographic boundaries, and even move uphill against the natural flow of gravity. Dust in the atmosphere is composed of a complex and ever-changing mixture that reflects the evolving human footprint on the landscape. The emission, transport, and deposition of dust interacts with and connects Critical Zone processes at all spatial and temporal scales. Landscape properties, land use, and climatic factors influence the wind erosion of soil and nutrient loss, which alters the long-term ecological dynamics at erosional locations. Once in the atmosphere, dust particles influence the amount of solar radiation reaching Earth, and interact with longwave (terrestrial) radiation, with cascading effects on the climate system. Finally, the wet and dry deposition of particles influences ecosystem structure, composition, and function over both short and long-term scales. Tracking dust particles from source to sink relies on monitoring and measurement of the geochemical composition and size distribution of the particles, space-borne and ground-based remote sensing, and dust modeling. Dust is linked to human systems via land use and policies that contribute to dust emissions and the health-related consequences of particulate loads and composition. Despite the significant influence dust has in shaping coupled natural-human systems, it has not been considered a key component of the Critical Zone. Here, we demonstrate that dust particles should be included as a key component of the Critical Zone by outlining how dust interacts with and shapes Earth System processes from generation, through transport, to deposition. We synthesize current understanding from global research and identify critical data and knowledge gaps while showcasing case studies from North America.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 104942"},"PeriodicalIF":10.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Commentary on Jaillard, E., (2022): Late Cretaceous-Paleogene orogenic build-up of the Ecuadorian Andes: Review and discussion","authors":"Antenor M. Alemán","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104939","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104939","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although Jaillard's (2022) paper denotes the first attempt to propose a model for the orogeny build-up of the Ecuadorian Andes, it is based on endorsing the poorly constrained and uncertain Caribbean Colombia Oceanic Plateau (CCOP) from the Coastal Ranges (CR) to the Western Cordillera (WC). This model is inconsistent with the crustal thickness variation confirmed by seismic tomography profiles and Moho map (Araujo et al., 2021), unreliable REE chondrite-normalized flat patterns (Kerr, 2014), absent of HIMU Pb isotope anomaly and lack of W, He or Ne isotope information indicative of primordial mantle. Along the Coastal Ranges, Jaillard discusses the NE-oriented San Lorenzo Arc (SLA) within the context of a back-arc basin, incorporating the Chongón Colonche High (CCH) as a remnant arc orthogonal to the margin since its emplacement. Contrarily, he overlooks the widespread Cretaceous olistolith outcrops representing the cryptic and vanished Paleocene suture zone, unlike the undeformed Santa Elena Formation. The occurrence of CR lower continental crust, inferred from lower than 7 Km/s <em>sec</em> V<sub>p</sub> velocity, decisively challenges the CCOP paradigm. To the east, while Jaillard describes west-vergent contractional deformation and the prowedge foredeep flysch, he geologically thickens the Western Cordillera by rooting thrusting near the crustal-mantle boundary, including the slender Guaranda Terrane (Totoras amphibolite). This is inconsistent with the 85 Ma crystallization age of HT metamorphism predating the collision event, further questioning the CCOP model. Additionally, Jaillard disregards the Pallatanga suture melange and the adakite Pujilí Granite obstructing subduction, which shifted westward post-collision, forming the Rio Cala intraoceanic arc synchronous with flysch foredeep deposition (Vallejo, 2007) and providing the stresses for contractional deformation. Along the foreland basin, Jaillard's distortion from lithostratigraphic to chronostratigraphic isopach maps impedes recognition of the molasse source, provenance, and deposition, coeval with the EC development. The Abitagua Granite, adjacent to the giant Pungarayacu heavy oil field, necessitates continuity of Cretaceous source rocks under the EC, also functioning as a detachment. The high gravitational potential energy achieved during strong collision dissipates through extensional gravitational collapse, modulating eastward as toe-thrust imbrication and utilizing the Cretaceous detachment to form the Eastern Cordillera retrowedge concurrently with WC contractional deformation, resulting in a bivergent fold and thrust belt.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"258 ","pages":"Article 104939"},"PeriodicalIF":10.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact catastrophism versus mass extinctions in retrospective, perspective and prospective: Toward a Phanerozoic impact event stratigraphy","authors":"Grzegorz Racki , Christian Koeberl","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104904","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104904","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite several, sometimes prominent propagators, meteorite impact research had a long period of peripheral status until the 1980s. Since then, there has been an intense search for impact-extinction pairs, driven by the rapid acceptance of Alvarez's hypothesis of a catastrophic Chicxulub impact at the end of the Mesozoic era. However, substantial errors have occurred for incompletely identified and/or indirectly dated impact craters in the context of purportedly coeval mass extinctions. For example, supposed giant craters based only on geophysical studies, such as those alleged as evidence of impact-driven end-Permian and Late Ordovician extinctions, are not supported by any real impact evidence (e.g., catastrophic sedimentation) in adjacent areas.</div><div>The updated three-step methodology presents an accurate approach to cause-effect inference in impact catastrophism. It begins with (1) conclusive recognition of impact craters and ejecta, followed by (2) their precise radiometric or biostratigraphic dating, and concludes with (3) assessing the impact's “kill” potential. The impact contribution to widely defined mass extinctions has been falsified based on the latest crater information from the global database and the updated ages of stratigraphic boundaries. In the Phanerozoic, two contrasting collision phenomena occurred: the Chicxulub asteroid mega-impact and a prolonged asteroid shower from a shattered chondritic body in the Middle to Late Ordovician. Accordingly, a distinction has been proposed between steady background conditions (impacts occurring singly and rarely in clusters) and perturbation (bombardment) intervals. Current evidence for an impact trigger has been reviewed in detail for the other four Big Five mass extinctions, but no confirmation has been found. The probability of a prolonged impact-enhanced Late Eocene to Early Oligocene crisis, caused by an asteroid shower, is considered, as well as biotic changes accompanying other major cratering events: the mid-Norian Manicouagan and the end-Jurassic Morokweng structures. In particular, for the Popigai asteroid swarm, implied from paired 100-km-sized craters, and the possible Morokweng-Mjølnir coincidence, the relationships between impact signatures and likely stepwise biotic events are far from conclusive. Even if medium-sized bolide impacts, recorded in ∼40-km-diameter craters, may have initiated near-global climatic hazards, the killing effect is unpredictable due to the diversity of cataclysm severity controls. Also the Ordovician cosmic bombardment did not have any negative influence on the great biodiversification. However, the asteroid swarms may have (by unusual dustiness of the inner Solar System) ultimately triggered or accelerated ice ages in the Late Ordovician and Oligocene, respectively. Overall, this implies a continuum in the biosphere's response to extraterrestrial stimuli.</div><div>Furthermore, a first attempt was made to explain the hidden record of","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 104904"},"PeriodicalIF":10.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142655603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mital Thacker , K.P.N. Kumaran , Paul B. Hamilton , Balasubramanian Karthick
{"title":"toAppraisal of Asian monsoon variability in the Indian subcontinent and East Asia through the Quaternary using diatom records","authors":"Mital Thacker , K.P.N. Kumaran , Paul B. Hamilton , Balasubramanian Karthick","doi":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span>Diatom records in tropical settings have been used to appraise paleomonsoons throughout the Quaternary period<span><span> due to their ubiquitous presence, rapid response, and preservation in sediments. Despite this, diatoms have been rarely used to assess the Asian monsoonal climate. As the Asian monsoon comprises the Indian and East Asian subsystems, it plays a significant role in global hydrological and energy cycles. Keeping global climate in mind, we reviewed the dynamics and causes of Asian monsoon variability (covering major records exclusive from the tropics) on different spatial and temporal scales using diatoms as a proxy record. The data have been compiled from 50 papers spanning fresh and marine sediment archives, covering entire monsoon regimes, predominantly from Southeast </span>Asia<span>. This study classified the data based on various geological periods ranging from the Pleistocene Epoch to the Holocene Meghalayan age (600 ka −300 a BP). Diatom proxies indicate fluctuating hydrological conditions and varying monsoon intensity throughout the Quaternary period and show regional scale coherence for specific climatic events. Diatom records from both inland and marine sediment archives indicate a wet and warm period during the mid–Pleistocene (590–300 kyr) and a cold climate and weakened East Asian monsoon during 300–140 kyr. Through the </span></span></span>late Pleistocene<span><span> period (75 to 15 kyr), monsoonal conditions were intense, wet and warm during the interglacial stages and weaker and dry during glacial stages across South and East Asia. During the Last Glacial Maximum<span> (24.5–18 kyr), the monsoon significantly weakened with cold climatic conditions in southern Asia<span>, and increased precipitation across East Asia. A majority of the published records witnessed an enhanced Asian monsoon and a warm and humid period towards the early to mid–Holocene, with a decline in the monsoon after the mid–Holocene accompanying intermittent intense wetter conditions. Diatom records from the sediment archives at many geographic locations hold signatures of extreme events such as the Younger Dryas cold event around 13.3–11.3 kyr BP, the </span></span></span>Medieval Warm Period around 1.3 to 0.8 kyr, and the </span></span>Little Ice Age in between 0.6 and 0.3 kyr. Further, we indicate that several sites from different monsoon-dominated geographic-climatic zones should be re-investigated with high resolution across spatial and temporal palaeoclimatic periods (including existing databases) with careful diatom taxonomy to strengthen a climatic reconstruction of this monsoon-dominated region of Asia.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":11483,"journal":{"name":"Earth-Science Reviews","volume":"247 ","pages":"Article 104622"},"PeriodicalIF":12.1,"publicationDate":"2023-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72365377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}