Evidence for rapid paraglacial formation of rock glaciers in southern Norway from 10Be surface-exposure dating

Linge, H., Nesje, A., Matthews, J. A., Fabel, D. and Xu, S. (2020) Evidence for rapid paraglacial formation of rock glaciers in southern Norway from 10Be surface-exposure dating. Quaternary Research, 97, pp. 55-70. (doi: 10.1017/qua.2020.10)

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Abstract

We evaluate the timing and environmental controls on past rock-glacier activity at Øyberget, upper Ottadalen, southern Norway, using in situ 10Be surface-exposure dating on (1) boulders belonging to relict rock-glacier lobes at c. 530 m asl, (2) bedrock and boulder surfaces at the Øyberget summit (c. 1200 m asl), and (3) bedrock at an up-valley site (c. 615 m asl). We find that the rock-glacier lobes became inactive around 11.1 ± 1.2 ka, coeval with the timing of summit deglaciation (11.2 ± 0.7 ka). This is slightly older than previously published Schmidt-hammer surface-exposure ages. The timing does not match known climatic conditions promoting rock-glacier formation in the early Holocene; hence we infer that lobe formation resulted from enhanced debris supply and burial of residual ice during and soon after deglaciation. The results demonstrate that rock glaciers may form over a relatively short period of time (hundreds rather than thousands of years) under non-permafrost conditions and possibly indicate a paraglacial type of process.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Xu, Dr Sheng and Fabel, Dr Derek
Authors: Linge, H., Nesje, A., Matthews, J. A., Fabel, D., and Xu, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
Journal Name:Quaternary Research
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
ISSN:0033-5894
ISSN (Online):1096-0287
Published Online:16 April 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 University of Washington
First Published:First published in Quaternary Science 97: 55-70
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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