State shifts in the deep Critical Zone drive landscape evolution in volcanic terrains
Understanding the near-surface environment where atmospheric and solid earth processes interact, often termed the “Critical Zone,” is important for assessing resources and building resilient societies. Here, we examine a volcanic landscape in the Oregon Cascade Range, an understudied Critical Zone setting that is host to major regional water resources, pervasive silicate weathering, and significant geohazards. We leverage a bedrock age chronosequence to show that the volcanic Critical Zone undergoes a structural shift, from depth extents of >1 km to meters, over timescales of ~1 My. We map an active groundwater volume comparable to major continental lakes, stored at the Cascade Range crest. This state shift makes volcanic landscape evolution a unique probe of deep coupling between Earth systems.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2025 |
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Title | State shifts in the deep Critical Zone drive landscape evolution in volcanic terrains |
DOI | 10.1073/pnas.2415155122 |
Authors | Leif Karlstrom, Nathaniel Klema, Gordon E. Grant, Carol A. Finn, Pamela L. Sullivan, Sarah Cooley, Alex Simpson, Becky Fasth, Katherine Cashman, Ken Ferrier, Lyndsay B. Ball, Daniele McKay |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | PNAS |
Index ID | 70262468 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center |