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1.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE QUATERNARY GEOLOGY OF THE LADAKH RANGE, NORTHWEST INDIAN HIMALAYA  相似文献   

2.
Lateroglacial valleys and landforms in the Karakoram Mountains (Pakistan)   总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1  
Lasafam Iturrizaga 《GeoJournal》2001,54(2-4):397-428
Lateroglacial landforms play a major role in the geomorphological landscape assemblage of the Karakoram Mountains. Nevertheless, in the past they have received only little attention in the glacial-geomorphological literature. In this article, the lateroglacial landscape will be presented as a geomorphological landscape unit. The Karakoram glaciers with lengths of up to 60 km are accompanied by lateroglacial sediment complexes over tens of kilometers. Besides their large horizontal distribution, they are spread over a considerable vertical range and occur between 2500 m–5000 m.The traditional view is that primary processes of rock disintegration such as ice avalanches and freeze-thaw processes as well as glaciofluvial sediments are the main debris suppliers for the formation of lateroglacial sediment complexes. However, the investigation of the lateroglacial sediment landscape of the Karakoram glaciers showed, that firstly the secondary debris supply in form of reworking of older glacigenic deposits (Late glacial slope moraines) represents a major debris source. Secondly, the lateroglacial sediments are composed to a major part of debris supplies from the tributary valleys. In this regard, the sediment input by mudflow events accords a prominent role. Therefore a considerable proportion of the lateroglacial sediments is of non-glacial origin. This fact has to be taken into consideration regarding glacier reconstruction in recent unglaciated mountain valleys. Further on, resedimented mudflow deposits could be identified as important parent material for recent lateral moraine formation. The distribution of lateroglacial valleys (`lateral moraine valleys') was traditionally closely linked to differences in insolation, which are in the subtropical latitude very high (`ablation valleys'). Therefore the S-faced valley flank was seen as the favourable location for lateroglacial valleys. However, field observations on more than 20 glaciers in the Karakoram Mountains proved that lateroglacial valleys occur in all exposures, and can be even absent in S-exposure. Topographical factors seem to be more important than insolation differences for the distribution pattern. Only the distribution of `true ablation valleys' can be regarded as a result of insolation differences. In fact, they can act as initial form for the formation of lateral moraine valleys.  相似文献   

3.
Matthias Kuhle 《GeoJournal》2001,54(2-4):107-396
A continuing prehistoric ice stream network between the Karakorum main crest and the Nanga Parbat massive has been evidenced, which, flowing down from the current Baltoro- and Chogolungma glaciers and filling the Shigar valley as well as the Skardu Basin, has flowed together with the Gilgit valley glacier to a joint Indus parent glacier through the Indus gorge. The ice stream network received an influx by a plateau glacier covering the Deosai plateau, which was connected through outlet glaciers to the ice filling of the Skardu Basin and the Astor glacier at the Nanga Parbat, as well as to the lower Indus glacier. The field observations introduced here in part confirm the results as to the Ice Age glacier surface area of Lydekker, Oestreich and Dainelli, but go beyond it. In additon, a reconstruction of the surface level of this ice stream network and its glacier thicknesses up to the highest regions of the present-day Karakorum valley glaciers has been carried out for the first time. In the area under investigation the Karakorum ice stream network showed three ice cupolas, culminating at an altitude of 6200–6400 m. Between the mountain groups towering 1000–2000 m higher up, they communicated with each other over the transfluence passes in a continuous glacier surface without breaks in slope. In the Braldu- and Basna valley ice thicknesses of 2400–2900 m have been reached. In the Skardu Basin, where the glacier thickness had decreased to c. 1500–1000 m, the ELA at an ice level of 3500-3200 m asl had fallen short to the extent that from here on down the Indus glacier a surface moraine cover has to be suggested. However, 80% of the surface of the ice stream network was devoid of debris and had an albedo of 75-90%. The lowest joint glacier terminus of the ice stream network was situated - as has already been published in 1988 – in the lower Indus valley at 850–800 m asl. The reconstructed maximum extension of the ice stream network has been classified as belonging to the LGM in the wider sense (60–18 Ka BP). Four Late Glacial glacier positions (I–IV), with a decreasing ice filling of the valleys, have been differentiated, which can be locally recognized through polish lines and lateral moraine ledges. The valley (trough-) flanks with their ground moraine covers, oversteepened by glacier abrasion, have been gravitationally destroyed by crumblings, slides and rock avalanches since the deglaciation, so that an interglacial fluvial-, i.e. V-shaped valley relief has been developed from the in part preserved glacial relief. The contrast of the current morphodynamics with regard to the preserved forms is seen as an indication of the prehistorically completely different - namely glacigenic – valley development and the obvious rapidity of this reshaping at still clearly preserved glacial forms provides evidence of their LGM-age. In an additional chapter the lowest ice margin positions, so far unpublished, are introduced, which have been reconstructed for the Hindukush, Central Himalaya and on the eastern margin of Tibet.  相似文献   

4.
Matthias Kuhle   《Tectonophysics》2007,445(1-2):116
Since 1973 new data were obtained on the maximum extent of glaciation in High Asia. Evidence for an ice sheet covering Tibet during the Last Glacial Period means a radical rethinking about glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere. The ice sheet's subtropical latitude, vast size (2.4 million km2) and high elevation (6000 m asl) are supposed to have resulted in a substantial, albedo-induced cooling of the Earth's atmosphere and the disruption of summer monsoon circulation. Moraines were found to reach down to 460 m asl on the southern flank of the Himalayas and to 2300 m asl on the northern slope of the Tibetan Plateau, in the Qilian Shan region. On the northern slopes of the Karakoram, Aghil and Kuen-Lun mountains, moraines occur as far down as 1900 m asl. In southern Tibet radiographic analyses of erratics suggest a former ice thickness of at least 1200 m. Glacial polish and roches moutonnées in the Himalayas and Karakoram suggest former glaciers as thick as 1200–2700 m. On the basis of this evidence, a 1100–1600 m lower equilibrium line (ELA) has been reconstructed, resulting in an ice sheet of 2.4 million km2, covering almost all of Tibet. Radiometric ages, obtained by different methods, classify this glaciation as isotope stage 3–2 in age (Würmian = last glacial period). With the help of 13 climate measuring stations, radiation- and radiation balance measurements have been carried out between 3800 and 6650 m asl in Tibet. They indicate that the subtropical global radiation reaches its highest energies on the High Plateau, thus making Tibet today's most important heating surface of the atmosphere. At glacial times 70% of those energies were reflected into space by the snow and firn of the 2.4 million km2 extended glacier area covering the upland. As a result, 32% of the entire global cooling during the ice ages, determined by the albedo, were brought about by this area — now the most significant cooling surface. The uplift of Tibet to a high altitude about 2.75 Ma ago, coincides with the commencement of the Quaternary Ice Ages. When the Plateau was lifted above the snowline (= ELA) and glaciated, this cooling effect gave rise to the global depression of the snowline and to the first Ice Age. The interglacial periods are explained by the glacial-isostatic lowering of Tibet by 650 m, having the effect that the initial Tibet ice – which had evoked the build-up of the much more extended lowland ices – could completely melt away in a period of positive radiation anomalies. The next ice age begins, when – because of the glacial-isostatic reverse uplift – the surface of the Plateau has again reached the snowline. This explains, why the orbital variations (Milankovic-theory) could only have a modifying effect on the Quaternary climate dynamic, but were not primarily time-giving: as long as Tibet does not glaciate automatically by rising above the snowline, the depression in temperature is not sufficient for initiating a worldwide ice age; if Tibet is glaciated, but not yet lowered isostatically, a warming-up by 4 °C might be able to cause an important loss in surface but no deglaciation, so that its cooling effect remains in a maximum intensity. Only a glaciation of the Plateau lowered by isostasy, can be removed through a sufficiently strong warming phase, so that interglacial climate conditions are prevailing until a renewed uplift of Tibet sets in up to the altitude of glaciation.An average ice thickness for all of Tibet of approximately 1000 m would imply that 2.2 million km3 of water were stored in the Tibetan ice sheet. This would correspond to a lowering in sea level of about 5.4 m.  相似文献   

5.
Research into the Quaternary geology of the NW Himalaya has concentrated on the elucidation of the glacial sequence. However, whilst the main ranges of the Himalaya have been subjected to numerous glaciations and are now an obvious alpine glaciated terrain, much of the landscape in Zanskar and Ladakh is more equivocal and does not appear to have been glaciated during this time. These landscape facets may therefore have a much older origin and relate to preglacial events.In Zanskar, the main ice source in all glaciations was the strongly glaciated and still glacierized north slope of the main Himalaya. This ice then flowed generally northwards in the valleys of the Zanskar river and its tributaries leaving between them a landscape supporting only a few and scattered minor local glaciers. Evidence of early glaciation has been found on isolated valley-side remnants >200 m above the present rivers. Reconstruction of these preglacial valley cross profiles show them to be generally broad and shallow, with gentle slopes. This is in distinct contrast to the present major valley systems which can usually be divided into two parts—a lower unglaciated fluvially eroded section, such as the Lungnak (Tsarap Lingti Chu) Gorge and an upper broad glacial section, such as the Stod (Doda) valley.Down-valley extent of glaciation is defined by the upper ends of unglaciated fluvial gorges. Laterally, the glaciers were confined progressively to their valleys. Inevitably there is only evidence of successively smaller subsequent glaciations, but the tectonic uplift of the southern ranges may have been a factor in this forming an increasing barrier to the snow-bearing monsoon winds.  相似文献   

6.
贡嘎山第四纪冰川遗迹及冰期划分   总被引:22,自引:1,他引:22  
在对贡嘎山现代冰川和古冰川考察研究的基础上,结合定位观测分析,对该区第四纪冰川遗迹进行了深入讨论,划分出三次冰期,即中更新世早期的倒数第三次冰期,中更新世晚期的倒数第二次冰期和晚更新世的末次冰期,以及全新世的新冰期和小冰期。提出在早更新世时,由于山体未达到当时冰川发育的雪线高度,所以未发育冰川;中更新世早期的冰期冰川为半覆盖式冰川类型,规模不大;中更新世晚期的冰期冰川是本区最大冰川作用时期,形成网状山麓冰川,东坡冰川曾达磨西台地;晚更新世冰期冰川以山谷冰川为主,以后规模逐次缩小。  相似文献   

7.
The Cerro El Potro and nearby mountain chains belong to the Andean Frontal Cordillera (28°S). Cerro El Potro is a glaciated mountain that is surrounded by huge valleys both on its Chilean and Argentinean flanks. Its southern limit is a steep rock wall towards the trough-shaped Río Blanco valley in Argentina, with a wide valley floor. The other sides of the mountain are characterized by well-developed Pleistocene cirques. The predominant landforms in this area have been shaped in a periglacial environment superimposed on an earlier glacial landscape. It is a region with abundant rock glaciers, a noteworthy rock glacier zone, but nevertheless, it is a relatively little known area in South America. In this preliminary inventory, the landforms surveyed were mainly gravitational in origin, including valley rock glaciers, talus rock glaciers, debris cones, landforms originated by solifluction processes and talus detrital sheets on mountain sides. Ancient moraine deposits have been found on the sides of the main rivers that cross the area form west to east, including the Blanco and Bermejo rivers. Present day fluvial activity is limited, and restricted to these main rivers. In this area of glacial valleys and small cirques, there are small lakes and other water bodies, grass covered patches and zones with high mountain vegetation. Present day glacial activity is restricted to the highest part of the area, above 5500 m a.s.l., mainly in the Cerro El Potro (5879 m) where a permanent ice field exists, as well as small mountain glaciers.  相似文献   

8.
We present here lithofacies and mineral magnetic results from a ~50 m thick composite record of fluvial, lacustrine and aeolian facies within the Leh valley basin of Indus River in Ladakh Himalaya. Mineral magnetic studies decipher interplay of two contrasting sediment sources viz., the unimodal ferrimagnetic source derived from Ladakh batholithic glacial domain and mixed ferri-to antiferromagnetic source derived from Indus sedimentary sequence. The lithofacies variability expresses dynamic changes in the depositional regimes controlled by base level fluctuations that are governed by the interaction of basin fill conditions and the response to Late Quaternary climatic perturbations. A three stage evolution of the Leh valley basin is proposed after comparison to other characteristic lithofacies changes within the valley as: (I) the basin under-fill conditions marked by fluvial and fluvio-lacustrine phase till ~24m (~64 Ka OSL age) above modern base level followed by (II) predominantly varved, glacio-lacustrine, basin overfill phase till 38m (~28 Ka) gradually passing into an aeolian phase; and (III) basin incision that began at the earliest Holocene warming. Advancement and retreat of glaciers from the transverse valleys, attributed to climatic oscillations, appears to have greatly controlled the basin-fill conditions in the Leh valley. The present approach demonstrates its larger scope in recording the Late Quaternary response of individual valley basins to delineate local and regional attributes of climate change in the Himalayan and Karakoram region.  相似文献   

9.
Glaciations of the West Coast Range,Tasmania   总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1  
Geomorphic, stratigraphic, palynologic and 14C evidence indicates that the West Coast Range, Tasmania, was glaciated at least three times during the late Cenozoic. The last or Margaret Glaciation commenced after 30,000 yr B.P., culminated about 19,000 yr B.P., and ended by 10,000 yr B.P. During this period a small ice cap, ca. 250 m thick, and cirque and valley glaciers covered 108 km2. The glacial deposits show little chemical weathering or erosional dissection. The snow line ranged from 690 to 1000 m with an average of 830 m for the ice cap. Mean temperature was 6.5°C below the present temperature. During the preceding Henty Glaciation a 300- to 400-m-thick ice cap and outlet glaciers exceeded 1000 km2. The glacial deposits are beyond 14C assay. They are more weathered chemically and more dissected than Margaret age deposits, and the degree suggests a pre-last interglaciation age (> 130,000 yr B.P.). The snow line of the ice cap lay at 740 m, and annual temperature was reduced by 7°C. Ice of the earliest Linda Glaciation slightly exceeded that of the Henty Glaciation but had a similar distribution. The glacial deposits are intensely weathered, have reversed magnetization, and overlie a paleosol containing pollen of Tertiary type. An early Pleistocene or Tertiary age is indicated.  相似文献   

10.
The Nanga Parbat–Haramosh Massif has some of the greatest relief on Earth and highest measured rates of uplift, denudation, and river incision in bedrock. Many studies have sought to understand how its morphology relates to geotectonic evolution and glaciations. However, few catastrophic rock slope failures had been recognised and many of their impacts had been attributed to other processes. Recently more than 150 of these landslides have been found within a 100-km radius of Nanga Parbat (8125 m). New discoveries are reported east, north and west of Nanga Parbat along the Indus streams. Most generated long-run-out rock avalanches that dammed the Indus or its tributaries, some impounding large lakes. They initiated episodes of intermontane sedimentation followed by trenching and removal of sediment. Valley-floor features record a complex interplay of impoundment and sedimentation episodes, superimposition of streams in pre-landslide valley floors, and exhumation of buried features. These findings depart from existing reconstructions of Quaternary events. A number of the rock-avalanche deposits were previously misinterpreted as tills or moraine and their associated lacustrine deposits attributed to glacial lakes. Features up to 1000 m above the Indus, formerly seen as tectonically raised terraces, are depositional features emplaced by landslides, or erosion terraces recording the trenching of valley fill in landslide-interrupted river reaches. Unquestionably, tectonics and glaciation have been important but decisive and misread formative events of the Holocene involve a post-glacial, landslide-fragmented fluvial system. The latter has kept valley developments in a chronic state of disequilibrium with respect to climatic and geotectonic controls. Accepted glacial chronologies are put in doubt, particularly the extent and timing of the last major glaciation. The pace and role processes in the Holocene have been seriously underestimated.  相似文献   

11.
Matthias Kuhle 《GeoJournal》1986,13(4):331-346
On the slopes of Himalayan Mountains there is a reduction and culmination of glaciation at 7000–7200 m asl. The presumed cause for this is that the surface temperatures on these slopes are too low for glaciation. This working hypothesis was verified with temperature measurements using collected infra-red radiation. The regression analysis of the measurements taken in the Mt. Everest region during sunny weather conditions of the post-monsoon season resulted in a 0°C line at 7000–7200 m asl. The coincidence of the 0°C line with the upper limit of glaciation is causally definable with the copula between the function of temperature and snow metamorphism: since it is too cold above 7000–7200 m asl, metamorphism into perennial or galcial ice through settling or sintering is absent or simply too slow. High relief and drifting hinder here the processes of ice-formation through pressure compaction of the dry-snow accumulation caused by molecular diffusion and recrystallization. Above 7200 m only continuous leeward accumulations of shifting snow on wall sections with moderate inclination lead to the formation of seracs. However, glaciation generally ceases at this level. This additionally confirms another study. It has been proven that Himalayan glaciers with catchment areas over 7000 m do not extend further downward than those glaciers whose catchment areas just reach this altitude. A break in balance at 7100 m asl is thereby confirmed, and the upper glacial limit is proven. Above the glacial region a rocky zo ne adjoins with pergelic conditions even in the surface layer. This zone is covered by snow during monsoon season only. Here, the weathering processes take place in an arid environment without thawing and purely by means of temperature variations below 0°C. They could correspond to those occurring on a larger scale on the planets of our solar system.A lowering of the upper glacial limit by at least 660 or 1200 m respectively, analogous to the Pleistocene snow-line depression reconstructed in S Tibet and the Central Himalayas, is assumed during the Ice Age.The author gratefully acknowledges the translation of this paper rendered by Dr. J. A. Hellen, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  相似文献   

12.
Three glacial stages (Deshkit 1, Deshkit 2 and Dishkit 3 glacial stages) are identified in the Nubra and Shyok valleys in northernmost Ladakh, northwest India, on the basis of geomorphic field mapping, remote sensing, and 10Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating. The glacial stages date to ∼ 45 ka (Deshkit 1 glacial stage), ∼ 81 ka (Deshkit 2 glacial stage) and ∼ 144 ka (Deshkit 3 glacial stage). A mean equilibrium line altitude depression of ∼ 290 m for the Deshkit 1 glacial stage was calculated using the area accumulation ratio, toe-to-headwall ratio, area-altitude, and area-altitude balance ratio methods. Comparison of glaciation in the Nubra and Shyok valleys with glaciations in the adjacent Central Karakoram of northern Pakistan and northern side of the Ladakh Range of northern India indicates that glaciation was synchronous on Milankovitch timescales across the region during MIS-6, but differed greatly in extent, with more extensive glaciation in the Karakoram than the morphostratigraphically equivalent glaciation on the northern slopes of the Ladakh Range. This highlights the strong contrast in the extent of glaciation across ranges in the Himalaya-Tibetan orogen, necessitating caution when correlating glacial successions within and between mountain ranges.  相似文献   

13.
黑沟源于东天山最大现代冰川作用中心博格达峰的南坡. 在第四纪冰期与间冰期旋回中,该流域的冰川均发生过多次规模较大的进退,在谷中留下了较为完整的冰川沉积序列. 这些冰川地形包含有重要的古气候变化信息,对其研究可重建黑沟流域的冰川演化史. 应用OSL对该流域的冰川沉积物进行定年,测定结果表明冰水沉积物(沙质透镜体)比冰碛物更适宜应用单片再生剂量(SAR)测年技术进行测定. 基于测得的年龄并结合地貌地层学原理可初步得出:晚第四纪期间,黑沟流域共发生了5次规模较大的冰川作用,分别为全新世期间的小冰期(16世纪以来冷期的冰进)与新冰期(距今3~4 ka的冰进),末次冰期晚冰阶(MIS 2)与早冰阶(MIS 4)以及倒数第二次冰期(MIS 6).  相似文献   

14.
Quaternary glacial history of the Central Karakoram   总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3  
The Quaternary glacial history of the world's highest mountains, the Central Karakoram, is examined for the first time using geomorphic mapping of landforms and sediments, and 10Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating of boulders on the moraines and glacially eroded surfaces. Four glacial stages are defined: the Bunthang glacial stage (>0.7 Ma); the Skardu glacial stage (marine Oxygen Isotope Stage [MIS] 6 or older); the Mungo glacial stage (MIS 2); and the Askole glacial stage (Holocene). Glaciers advanced several times during each glacial stage. These advances are not well defined for the oldest glacial stages, but during the Mungo and Askole glacial stages glacial advances likely occurred at 16, 11–13, 5 and 0.8 ka. The extent of glaciation in this region became increasingly more restricted over time. In the Braldu and Shigar valleys, glaciers advanced >150 km during the Bunthang and Skardu glacial stages, while glaciers advanced >80 km beyond their present positions during the Mungo glacial stage. In contrast, glaciers advanced a few kilometers from present ice margins during the Askole glacial stage. Glacier in this region likely respond in a complex fashion to the same forcing that causes changes in Northern Hemisphere oceans and ice sheets, teleconnected via the mid-latitude westerlies, and also to changes in monsoonal intensity.  相似文献   

15.
Two large ice fields between 46°30′ and 51°30′S cover the Patagonian Andes. The North and South Patagonian Ice Fields are separated by the transandine depth line at 47°45′ to 48°15′S. Canal and Río Baker run through this depression. The two ice fields are generally considered relics of a continuous ice cap, which covered the entire Patagonian Andes from 39° to 52°S and extended far into the eastern foreland of the Andes. This assumption is not correct for the 200-km-long section of the Andes between Lago Pueyrredón (Lago Cochrane in Chile) (47°15′S) and Lago San Martín (Lago O'Higgins in Chile) (48°45′S). The lack of a continuous ice cap extending far into the east is caused by the transandine depth line, playing a crucial role in the fluvial erosion and the glacial scouring of this tectonic zone. This depression formed a river system (e.g. Río Baker, Río Bravo and Río Mayer) that drains towards the west. Reconstruction of the maximum glacial advance of the last ice age shows that the eastern outlet glaciers of the two ice fields between Lago San Martín and Lago Pueyrredón did not drain towards the east, but rather followed the general gradient of the transandine depth line. In this area the eastern flank of the Andes between Monte San Lorenzo (3770 m) and Sa. de Sangra (2155 m) supported valley glaciers, which were independent of the expanding ice fields. Only a few valley glaciers advanced towards the Patagonian Meseta. The terminal moraines of these glaciers were erroneously interpreted as the eastern edge of a continuous ice cap. North of 47°30′S the outlet glaciers of the NPI advanced 200 km during the LGM and the late glacial advances nearly reached to 71°W. In contrast, south of 49°S glacier expansion was comparatively less: The LGM is situated only 85–115 km east of the present margins of the large outlet glaciers (O'Higgins, Viedma, and Upsala), and no late glacial advance reached 72°W. These considerable differences of glacier expansion were influenced by the northward migration of the westerly precipitation belt during glacial cycles. There is tentative evidence that the glaciers advanced three times in the period from 14 000 to 9 500 14C years BP.  相似文献   

16.
Optically stimulated luminescence dating of Late Quaternary glaciogenic sediments was undertaken in critical areas of the Himalayas of northern Pakistan in order to examine the timing of glaciation. The dates demonstrate that several glaciations occurred during the last glacial cycle. In Swat, the Grabral 2 Stade and the Kalam I Stade were dated at ca. 77 ka and ca. 38 ka, respectively. The error on the former date is large and it is conceivable that the moraines may have formed during the early part of Oxygen Isotope Stage 3 rather than during Oxygen Isotope Stage 4. The Kalam I Stade, however, clearly represents a glaciation during Oxygen Isotope Stage 3. The oldest moraines and those at the lowest altitude in the Indus valley at Shatial have an age of ca. 60 ka. These also relate to a major glacial advance during Oxygen Isotope Stage 3. A younger series of moraines, the Jalipur Tillite, and glaciofluvial sands at Liachar in the Indus valley, and moraines at Rampur–Tarshing have ages of ca. 27 ka, ca. 21–23 ka and ca. 15 ka, respectively. These dates show that glaciers also occupied parts of the Indus valley during Oxygen Isotope Stage 2. These dates and the morphostratigraphy show that glaciation in the Pakistani Himalaya was more extensive during the early part of the last glacial cycle and that the local last glacial maximum in Pakistan was asynchronous with the maximum extent of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

17.
Recent field research and modeling experiments by the authors suggest that Würm glaciation of Tian Shan Mountains had much larger extent than it was previously believed. Our reconstruction is based upon the following evidence: 1. a till blanket with buried glacier ice occurring on mountain plateaus at altitudes of 3700 to 4000 m asl; 2. trough valleys with U-shaped profiles breaching the border ridges and thus attesting to former outlet glaciers spreading outwards from the plateaus; 3. morphologically young moraines and ice-marginal ramps which mark termini of the outlet glaciers at 1600–1700 m asl (near Lake Issyk-Kul shores) and farther down to 1200 m asl (in Chu River valley); 4. clear evidence of impounding the Chu River by former glaciers and turning Lake Issyk-Kul into an ice-dammed and iceberg-infested basin; 5. radiocarbon dates attesting to the Late Pleistocene age of the whole set of glacial phenomena observed in the area.Our data on past glaciation provide a solution for the so called paleogeographical puzzle of Lake Issyk-Kul, in particular they account for the lake-level oscillations (by ice dam formations and destructions), for the origin of Boam Canyon (by impact of lake outbursts), and the deflection of Chu River from Lake Issyk-Kul (by incision of the canyon and build-up of an ice-raft delta near the lake outflow).The Würm depression of regional snowline was found to be in the range of 1150–1400 m. While today's snowline goes above the plateaus of Tian Shan touching only the higher ridges, the Würmian snowline dropped well below plateau surfaces making their glacierization inevitable. The same change in snowline/bedrock relationship was characteristic of the interglacial-to-glacial climate switches on the Tibetan Plateau resulting in similar changes of glaciation. The whole history of central Asian glaciations seems to be recorded in the Chinese loess sequences.A finite-element model was used to test two climate scenarios — one with a gradual and another with an abrupt change in snow-line elevation. The model predicted that an equilibrium ice cover would form in 19,000 (first scenario) or 15,000 (second scenario) years of growth. It also yielded ice thicknesses and ice-marginal positions which agreed well with the data of field observations.  相似文献   

18.
Late Pleistocene and modern ice extents in central Nepal are compared to estimate equilibrium line altitude (ELA) depressions. New techniques are used for determining the former extent of glaciers based on quantitative, objective geomorphic analyses of a 90-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM). For every link of the drainage network, valley form is classified as glacial or fluvial based on cross-valley shape and slope statistics. Down-valley transitions from glacial to fluvial form indicate the former limits of glaciation in each valley. Landsat Multispectral Scanner imagery for the same region is used to map current glacier extents. For both full-glacial and modern cases, ELAs are computed from the glacier limits using the DEM and a toe-to-headwall altitude ratio of 0.5. Computed ELA depressions range from 100–900 m with a modal value of 650 m and a mean of 500 m, values consistent with previously published estimates for the central Himalaya but markedly smaller than estimates for many other regions. We suggest that this reflects reduced precipitation, rather than a small temperature depression, consistent with other evidence for a weaker monsoon under full-glacial conditions.  相似文献   

19.
Central Ethiopia comprises a high plateau at 2000–3000 m, formed from Tertiary lava flows and bisected by the Eastern African Rift. Ten volcanic mountains rise to altitudes of just over 4000 m, but on only three has Quaternary glaciation been substantiated by published field observations. On the Bale Mountains (4400 m), a previous report based on limited evidence proposed an ice‐cap extending to 600 km2. Based on aerial photographs and ground surveys, this paper reports evidence of a more complex situation. A wide spread of large erratic boulders on the plateau records a central ice cap of 30 km2, though ice probably extended for a further 40 km2. Further north two groups of deeply incised and clearly glaciated valleys contain moraines and roches moutonnées (60 km2). On interfluves between them and on the open north slopes are moraines from an earlier stage of the same glaciation or from a distinct older event. Altogether about 180 km2 may have been glaciated. Cores dated by 14C from inside and outside the glaciated area suggest that at least the northern valley glaciers may date from the Last Glacial Maximum. Estimated equilibrium line altitudes for these glaciers and the ice‐cap are 3750–4230 m. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

20.
The deglaciation history of the Escarra and Lana Mayor glaciers (Upper Gállego valley, central Spanish Pyrenees) had been reconstructed on the basis of detailed geomorphological studies of glacier deposits, sedimentological and palynological analyses of glacial lake sediments and an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C chronology based on minimum ages from glacial lake deposits. The maximum extent of the Pyrenean glaciers during the last glaciation was before 30 000 yr BP and pre‐dated the maximum advances of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet and some Alpine glaciers. A later advance occurred during the coldest period (around 20 000 yr BP), synchronous with the maximum global ice extent, but in the Pyrenees it was less extensive than the previous one. Later, there were minor advances followed by a stage of debris‐covered glaciers and a phase of moraine formation near cirque backwalls. The deglaciation chronology of the Upper Gállego valley provides more examples of the general asynchroneity between mountain and continental glaciers. The asynchroneity of maximum advances may be explained by different regional responses to climatic forcing and by the southern latitude of the Pyrenees. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

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