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Holocene Glacier Variations of Blåisen, Hardangerjøkulen, Central Southern Norway

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Atle Neshe  and
Svein Olaf Dahl
Atle Neshe
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Section B, University of Bergen, Allégt. 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
Svein Olaf Dahl
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Section B, University of Bergen, Allégt. 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
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Abstract

A 1-m-deep gully section 460 m beyond the maximum Little Ice Age marginal moraines of Blåisen, Hardangerjøkulen, central southern Norway, revealed alternations of minerogenic and organic sediments. The geographical/geological settings of the dated section provides a unique on/off signal of Holocene glacier fluctuations of Blåisen. Lithostratigraphy, sediment characteristics, and radiocarbon dates from the study section indicate one period of glacier (re)advance between the late Preboreal deglaciation of the inland ice sheet and 8660 ± 100 yr B.P. A grey sand layer 56–57 cm below the surface is interpreted to be of fluvial/colluvial origin and is radiocarbon dated to about 7700 yr B.P. At 48 cm below the surface, a bluish-grey sand/silt layer is radiocarbon dated to 7590 ± 12 yr B.P. (6560–6240 B.C.) and interpreted to be glaciofluvial origin. A minor glacier oscillation postdates 1130 ± 70 yr B.P. (810–990 A.D.). The Medieval/Little Ice Age glacier advance of Blåisen beyond its modern extent occurred after 1040 ± 60 yr B.P. (960–1030 A.D.). Calculations of the modern and Little Ice Age equilibrium-line altitudes (ELAs) on Hardangerjøkulen suggest an ELA depression of ca. 130 m during the Little Ice Age maximum.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , January 1991 , pp. 25 - 40
Copyright
University of Washington

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