Evidence of holocene climatic changes from aeolian deposits in Baja California Sur, México

Abstract

Well-defined Late Pleistocene and Holocene dune fields are present on the surface of the Purísima-Iray Magdalena sedimentary basin and on top of barrier islands of the Magdalena Lagoonal Complex in Baja California Sur, México. Thermoluminescence, amino acid epimerization, and radiocarbon techniques were used for dating dune sands and shell samples respectively. During Late Pleistocene to early Holocene (14 to 8 ka BP) mega-barchans and linear dunes were formed. During early Holocene through middle Holocene (warm-dry climate) dune fields were still active. At about 5 to 6 ka BP the stabilization of sea level developed the present lagoonal system in the area. Sandy barrier islands capped by foredunes were developed. At this time coastal dunes were eroded, and in part inundated, forming large flooding flats and sabkha deposits in the old inter-dune areas. During late Holocene, after the lagoonal system was fully developed, dunes were emplaced along the lagoonal coasts. The presence of some younger dates in older deposits seems to represent dune reactivation.