Chronology and paleoclimate of storm-induced erosion and episodic dune growth across Cape Espenberg Spit, Alaska

The Cape Espenberg beach ridge plain is capped by a succession of primary and secondary dune and/or blowout ridges whose 5000 yr chronostratigraphy is based on landform evolution, peat formation, pedogenesis, tephro-chronology, and geological (n=23) and archaeological (n=32) radiocarbon ages. Landform evolution reflects several sets of conditions: beach ridges form under fair weather wave climates and/or following subsiding storm levels, dunes build in fall and winter in conjunction with onshore N or NW winds, while net offshore sediment transport and erosion predominates during fall storms. Inter-ridge swales foster peat and palsa growth atop driftwood in conjunction with thin snow cover. Dunes built during stormy intervals correlative with montane Alaska glacial expansions 3300-1700 super(1) super(4) C yrs BP and from 1200-200 super(1) super(4) C yrs BP.