2008 Appalachian Tectonic Studies Group Field Trip

Active Tectonics, Erosion, and Appalachian Landscape Evolution of the lower Susquehanna River basin

Frank J. Pazzaglia, Lehigh University

The 2008 ATSG field trip was held in the lower Susquehanna River basin from North East, MD to Harrisburg, PA on May 10 and 11 , 2008. We covered familiar ATSG territory, but with a major thematic twist. We visited the lower Susquehanna River basin and learned of Cenozoic rock uplift, river incision, active tectonics, and the geodynamics of the 'passive margin'. The story is mature with roots dating back to early in the century but has several more recent publications. New data continue to reshape our thinking. Among the more intriguing possibilities that we discussed are the geodynamic implications of far-field strains (if any) stemming from the Chesapeake Bay impact structure.

ATSG 2008 proof sheet

A website containing other information regarding this trip can be found by clicking here.

Thanks for attending and I look forward to seeing you on future ATSG trips.

Frank J. Pazzaglia
Lehigh University
fjp3@lehigh.edu


GSA Field Guide

Pazzaglia, F. J., Braun, D. D., Pavich, M., Bierman, P., Potter, N., Merritts, D., Walter, R., and Germanoski, D., 2006, Rivers, glaciers, landscape evolution, and active tectonics of the central Appalachians, Pennsylvania and Maryland, in Pazzaglia, F. J., ed., Excursions in Geology and History: Field Trips in the Middle Atlantic States: Geological Society of America Field Guide 8, p. 169-197, doi: 10.1130/2006.fld008(09).  PDF

Manuscripts

Pazzaglia, F. J., 1993, Stratigraphy, petrography, and correlation of late Cenozoic middle Atlantic Coastal Plain deposits: Implications for late-stage passive margin geologic evolution, Geol. Soc. of Am. Bull., v.105, p.1617-1634.  PDF

Pazzaglia, F. J. and Gardner, T. W., 1993, Fluvial terraces of the lower Susquehanna River: Geomorphology, v.8, p.83-113. PDF

Pazzaglia, F. J. and Gardner, T. W., 1994, Late Cenozoic flexural deformation of the middle U.S. Atlantic passive margin: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 99, n. B6, p. 12,143-12,157.  PDF

Pazzaglia, F. J. and Brandon, M. T., 1996, Macrogeomorphic evolution of the post-Triassic Appalachian Mountains determined by deconvolution of the offshore basin sedimentary record: Basin Research, 8, 255-278.  PDF

Pazzaglia, F. J., Robinson, R., and Traverse, A., 1997, Palynology of the Bryn Mawr Formation (Miocene): Insights on the age and genesis of middle Atlantic margin fluvial deposits: Sedimentary Geology, v. 108, p. 19-44.  PDF

 Pazzaglia, F. J., Gardner, T. W., and Merritts, D., 1998, Bedrock fluvial incision and longitudinal profile development over geologic time scales determined by fluvial terraces, in Wohl, E. and Tinkler, K., eds., Bedrock Channels: American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph Series, v. 107, p. 207-235. 

 Pazzaglia, F. J. and Gardner, T. W., 2000, Late Cenozoic landscape evolution of the US Atlantic passive margin: insights into a North American Great Escarpment in, Summerfield, M.A., ed., Geomorphology and Global Tectonics, Wiley Interscience, Chirchester, p. 284-302.  PDF

 Pazzaglia, F. J., 2003, Landscape evolution models, in Gillespie, A. R., Porter, S. C., and Atwater, B. F., eds., The Quaternary Period in the United States: Amsterdam, Elsevier, p. 247-274, doi:10.1016/S1571-0866(03)01012-1.  PDF

 Reusser et al., 2004, Rapid late Pleistocene incision of Atlantic passive-margin river gorges: Science, v. 305, p. 499-502.  PDF

 Pazzaglia et al. 2005, Interim NSF report on Appalachian U-Th/He thermochrnology.  PDF

 Reusser, et al., 2006, An episode of rapid bedrock channel incision during the last glacial cycle, measured with 10Be: American Journal of Science, v. 306, p. 69-102.  PDF

 Frankel, K. L., Pazzaglia, F. J., and Vaughn, J. D., 2007, Knickpoint evolution in a vertically bedded substrate and upstream-dipping terraces: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 119, p.476-486.  PDF

Rev. 2008 May 15