BULLETIN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 



Vol. 18, pp. 351-388, PLS. 31-39 OCTOBER 21, 1907 



SOME CHAEACTEEISTICS OF THE GLACIAL PERIOD IN 

 NON-GLACIATED REGIONS* 



BY ELLSWORTH HUNTINGTON 



{Presented in abstract before the Society December 29, 1906) 



CONTENTS 



Page 



lutroduction 352 



Relative importance of glaciation and of otlier evidences of climatic 



changes 354 



Typical features of a river in an arid region 354 



1. Glacial features 354 



2. Fluvial features 355 



3. Lacustral features 356 



Types and results of changes of climate as distinguished from the agents 



producing the results 356 



Climatic theory of fluvial terraces 357 



Influence of changes of climate on vegetation — Loess 359 



Resume of characteristics of the Pleistocene period of climatic changes. . . 360 

 Rhythmic nature of climatic changes — Suggestion of new terms derived 



from the rhythm of poetry 361 



Importance of climatic records in arid basins 362 



The basin of Seyistan, in eastern Persia 363 



General description of the basin •. 363 



Pleistocene (and Pliocene) deposits of Seyistan 364 



1. Subaerial red beds 364 



2. White or light-colored lacustrine clays 366 



Climatic significance of the alternating red and white strata of Sey- 

 istan 366 



Indications of later changes of climate at Seyistan 367 



Lop-Nor and the basin of Lop, in Chinese Turkestan 368 



General description of the basin 368 



Abandoned lacustrine strands of Lop-Nor 368 



Pleistocene (and Pliocene) deposits of Lop-Nor 369 



Unconformities and buried strands of Lop 371 



Number of climatic cycles in the Pleistocene (Pliocene) strophe at 



Lop 374 



The basin of Turf an, in Chinese Turkestan 375 



General description of the basin 375 



Abandoned lacustrine strands of Turfan 376 



* Manuscript received by the Secretary of the Society June 5, 1907. 



XXXI — Bdll. Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. 18, 1906 (351) 



