Melting Glaciers and Soil Development in the Proglacial Area Morteratsch (Swiss Alps): I. Soil Type Chronosequence

Egli, Markus; Wernli, Michael; Kneisel, Christof; Haeberli, Wilfried

doi:10.1657/1523-0430(2006)38[499:mgasdi]2.0.co;2

Cited by 86 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…; Fig. 10), possibly for several hundreds of years (Egli et al, 2006). Therefore, assuming that the organic carbon enclosed within our cryocarbonate samples reflects the soil organic carbon, we can deduce the minimum age of the primary paleosol development to be around 6,500 years cal BP.…”

Section: Implications For the Holocene Paleoclimate In The Bossons Areamentioning

confidence: 79%

Geochemical Processes Leading to the Precipitation of Subglacial Carbonate Crusts at Bossons Glacier, Mont Blanc Massif (French Alps)

et al. 2017

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Cold climate carbonates can be used as paleoclimatic proxies. The mineralogy and isotopic composition of subglacially precipitated carbonate crusts (SPCCs) provide insights into the subglacial conditions and processes occurring at the meltwaterbasement rock interface of glaciers. This study documents such crusts discovered on the lee side of a gneissic roche moutonnée at the terminus of the Bossons glacier in the Mont Blanc Massif area (France). The geological context and mineralogical investigations suggest that the Ca used for the precipitation of large crystals of radial fibrous sparite observed in these crusts originated from subglacial chemical weathering of Ca-bearing minerals of the local bedrock (plagioclase and amphibole). Measurements of the carbon and oxygen isotope compositions in the crusts indicate precipitation at, or near to, equilibrium with the basal meltwater under open system conditions during refreezing processes. The homogeneous and low carbonate δ 13 C values (ca. −11.3‰) imply a large contribution of soil organic carbon to the Bossons subglacial meltwater carbon reservoir at the time of deposition. In addition, organic remains trapped within the SPCCs give an age of deposition around 6,500 years cal BP suggesting that the Mid-Holocene climatic and pedological optima are archived in the Bossons glacier carbonate crusts.

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Section: Implications For the Holocene Paleoclimate In The Bossons Areamentioning

confidence: 79%

Geochemical Processes Leading to the Precipitation of Subglacial Carbonate Crusts at Bossons Glacier, Mont Blanc Massif (French Alps)

et al. 2017

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“…Föllmi et al, 2009a,b;Hall et al, 2002). Contrary to the temperature-inhibited assumption, several recent investigations document that weathering in cold alpine regions, including chemical weathering, is most directly controlled by moisture availability (Egli et al, 2006). Furthermore, since weathering rates decrease with time of weathering (e.g.…”

Section: High-mountains and Weatheringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil formation rates on silicate parent material in alpine environments: Different approaches–different results?

2014

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High-mountain soils develop in particularly sensitive environments. Consequently, deciphering and predicting what drives the rates of soil formation in such environments are a major challenge. In terms of soil production or formation from chemical weathering, the predominating perception for highmountain soils and cold environments is often that the chemical weathering 'portion' of soil development is temperature-inhibited, often to the point of non-occurrence. Several concepts exist to determine longterm rates of soil formation and development. We present three different approaches: (1) quantification of soil formation from minimally eroded soils of known age using chronosequences (known surface age and soil thickness -SAST), (2) determination of soil residence times (SRT) and production rates through chemical weathering using (un)stable isotopes (e.g. 230Th/234U activity ratios), and (3) a steady state approach using cosmogenic isotopes (e.g. 10Be). For each method, data from different climate zones, and particularly from high-mountains (alpine environment), are compared. The SAST and steady state approach give quite similar results for alpine environments (European Alps and the Wind River Range (Rocky Mountains, USA)). Using the SRT approach, soil formation rates in mountain areas (but having a temperate climate) do not differ greatly from the SAST and steady state approaches. Independent of the chosen approach, the results seem moderately comparable. Soil formation rates in high-mountain areas (alpine climate) range from very low to extremely high values and show a clear decreasing tendency with time. Very young soils have up to 3-4 orders of magnitude higher rates of development than old soils (105 to 106 yr). This apparently is a result of kinetic limits on weathering in regions having young surfaces and supply limits to weathering on old surfaces. Due to the requirement for chemical weathering to occur, soil production rates cannot be infinitely high. Consequently, a speed limit must exist. In the literature, this limit has been set at about 320 to 450 t/km2/a. Our results from the SAST approach show, however, that in alpine areas soil formation easily reaches rates of up to 800-2000 t/km2/a. These data are consistent with previous studies in mountain regions demonstrating that particularly young soils intensively weather, even under continuous seasonal snowpack and, thus, that the concept of 'temperature-controlled' soil development (soil-forming intervals) in alpine regions must be reconsidered. High-mountain soils develop in particularly sensitive environments. Consequently, deciphering and predicting what drives the rates of soil formation in such environments are a major challenge. In terms of soil production or formation from chemical weathering, the predominating perception for high-mountain soils and cold environments is often that the chemical weathering 'portion' of soil development is temperature-inhibited, often to the point of non-occurrence. Several concepts exist to determine long...

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“…Soil mapping already includes a certain generalisation as small-scale variations (approx. < 100m 2 ) could not be considered (Egli et al 2006). …”

Section: Soil Mappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant succession and soil development on the foreland of the Morteratsch glacier (Pontresina, Switzerland): Straight forward or chaotic?

Burga

Krüsi

Egli

et al. 2010

Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants

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Melting Glaciers and Soil Development in the Proglacial Area Morteratsch (Swiss Alps): I. Soil Type Chronosequence

Cited by 86 publications

References 33 publications

Geochemical Processes Leading to the Precipitation of Subglacial Carbonate Crusts at Bossons Glacier, Mont Blanc Massif (French Alps)

Geochemical Processes Leading to the Precipitation of Subglacial Carbonate Crusts at Bossons Glacier, Mont Blanc Massif (French Alps)

Soil formation rates on silicate parent material in alpine environments: Different approaches–different results?

Plant succession and soil development on the foreland of the Morteratsch glacier (Pontresina, Switzerland): Straight forward or chaotic?

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