ages of the recent two episodes of glacially dammed lakes along the upstream of the yarlung zangbo gorge |
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| Authors: | LI Cui-ping WANG Ping QIAN Da TANG Mao-yun |
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| Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China;
2. China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100029, China |
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| Abstract: | There are many episodes of multiple-level lacustrine terraces along the entrance of the Yarlung Zangbo Great Canyon. Besides, very thick fluvio-lacustrine sediments are buried beneath the cover of the riverbed. Optically stimulated luminescence and radiocarbon dating provide an approximate timeline of upper valley deposits and reveal at least two glacially dammed lake events (Ⅰ and Ⅱ) which have deposition ages of 7～9ka (Ⅰ) and 20～30ka(Ⅱ), respectively. The recent two episodes of glacially dammed lakes produced two steps of lacustrine terraces (T1, T2) correspondingly, which are of elevations 2906～2 956m and 3100～3 060m. The formation of paleo-dammed lakes reflects that the Zelunglung Glacier in the west slope of Mt. Namche Barwa had progressively advanced to block the Yarlung Tsangpo River during the early Holocene and the Last Glacial Maximum. The glacially dammed lake I has a relatively smaller extent. Its lacustrine sediments are distributed mainly from Datuoka to Mirui with maximum thickness about 5～8m. Its end is roughly at the south of Milin County. The glacially dammed lake Ⅱ occupies a large area with the end roughly nearby Lang County. Its sediments are exposed from Datuoka to Wolong with maximum thickness about 100m. After the later fluvial erosion, the lacustrine sediments of this lake formed 1～3 levels of secondary terraces. |
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| Keywords: | Yarlung Zangbo Great Canyon lacustrine terraces glacially dammed lakes OSL glacier blocking |
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