Data associated with Quaternary Research manuscript Latest Pleistocene glacial chronology and paleoclimate reconstruction for the East River watershed, Colorado, USA
The data here are associated with Quaternary Research manuscript Latest Pleistocene glacial chronology and paleoclimate reconstruction for the East River watershed, Colorado, USA and include data associated with cosmogenic exposure and depth profile dating as well as glacier-climate numerical modeling. Reconstructing Pleistocene glaciation timing and extent is vital for understanding paleoclimate. While late Pleistocene glaciation has been studied extensively in western North American mountain ranges, the glacial history of the western Elk Range in Colorado remains understudied, particularly in the East River watershed, a site of intense scientific focus. Here we use cosmogenic nuclide exposure and depth–profile dating methods to determine the timing of glaciation in the East River watershed. We use glacier modeling to reconstruct paleoglacier extents and quantify past climate conditions. Our findings indicate that the East River glacier retreated from its maximum position approximately 17–18 ka, moving to recessional positions between 13–15 ka, before experiencing more substantial retreat to high-elevation cirques around 12.9 ka. Glacier modeling suggests that the maximum ice extents at 17–18 ka could have been sustained by temperature depressions of approximately −6.5°C compared to modern conditions, assuming consistent precipitation. Additionally, the ice position at 13–15 ka could have been supported by temperature depressions of around −4.0°C. These results offer insights into the deglaciation timeline in the East River watershed and broader western Elk Range as well as paleoclimate conditions during the late Pleistocene, which may aid future research on critical zone evolution in the East River watershed.The data files include: 1. Table 1 In situ-produced 10Be sample data (.pdf, .csv, .xlsx)2. Table 2 In situ-produced 10Be exposure age results (.pdf, .csv, .xlsx)3. S1_A CRONUS calculator input assuming no erosion (.csv)4. S1_B CRONUS calculator input assuming erosion (.csv)5. S1_C CRONUS calculator results and comparison (.csv)6. S2_A In situ-produced 10Be sample data for depth profile (.csv)7. S2_B In situ-produced 10Be depth profile model input (.csv)8. S2_C In situ-produced 10Be depth profile model results (.csv)9. S3 Monthly cloudiness, rH, and windspeed data used in glacier climate model (.csv)10. S4 Glacier climate model results (.csv)