Holocene evolution of the Triftje- and the Oberseegletscher (Swiss Alps) constrained with 10Be exposure and radiocarbon dating
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Date
2018-04
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
To develop a more precise understanding of Alpine glacier fluctuations during the Holocene, the glacier forefields of the Triftjegletscher and the Oberseegletscher east of Zermatt in the Valais Alps, Switzerland, were investigated. A multidisciplinary approach of detailed geological and geomorphological field mapping combined with ¹⁰Be exposure and radiocarbon dating was applied. A total of twelve samples of boulders and bedrock were taken from both Little Ice Age (LIA) landforms, as documented by the Dufour map published in 1862, and from landforms outside of the LIA. The resulting ¹⁰Be ages range between 12590 ± 350 a and 420 ± 170 a. A piece of wood found embedded in the Little Ice Age moraine gave radiocarbon ages that range between 293 cal years BP up to modern (356–63 cal years before 2013). Based on these results, four tentative steps of the Holocene evolution could be distinguished. An early Holocene stage, which documents the decay of the Egesen stadial glaciers when the first parts of the study area became ice free. This was followed by a phase with no evidence of glacier advance. Then in the late Holocene, the glaciers advanced (at least) twice. An advance around 1200 a, as shown by several moraine ages, coincides with the Göschenen II cold phase. A more extensive readvance occurred during the LIA as shown on the historical maps and underpinned by one ¹⁰Be exposure age and the radiocarbon age. This later advance destroyed or overprinted the earlier landforms in most parts of the area.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
111 (1)
Pages / Article No.
117 - 131
Publisher
Springer
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Subject
Glacier reconstruction; Cosmogenic 10Be; Holocene; Little Ice Age; Göschenen II
Organisational unit
08619 - Labor für Ionenstrahlphysik (LIP) / Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP)
Notes
It was possible to publish this article open access thanks to a Swiss National Licence with the publisher.
Funding
135448 - Tracking glacial erosion and glacier occupation in the Alps with the unique combination of measurement and modeling of 10Be, 14C, and 36Cl in bedrock (SNF)