Middle–late holocene paleoclimate and weathering history in the norra storfjället mountains, sweden: deglacial record and soil stratigraphy applied to neoglaciation in lower latitudes

Abstract

The retreat record of the Stabre Glacier into the Norra Storfjället mountains, after separation from the massive Tärnaån Glacier at some undetermined time in the Atlantic Chron, is documented by recessional moraines in the foreland. While poorly constrained by radiometric dating, the age of the middle group of moraines averages out to less than 4000 cal 14C yr BP, the older moraine group probably of Late Atlantic age, with the youngest deposits of Little Ice Age (LIA). Soils/paleosols range from Entisols (youngest) and Inceptisols (middle group) to mature Spodosols (outer group), existing either as single‐story profiles or within pedostratigraphic columns, buried pedons either surfaced with weathered glacial or mass wasted deposits. Some profiles exhibit convoluted properties which could place them in the Cryosolic order. The physico‐mineral‐chemical properties of soils/paleosols in recessional deposits across this sequence provide weathering indices over the mid to Late Holocene in the Swedish sub‐Arctic climate. It is likely the middle group of deposits represents stillstand of the retreating glacier offset by climatic deterioration with the onset of Early Neoglacial climate which altered the glacial mass balance, at least until termination of the LIA. Correlation to other alpine areas in the middle and tropical latitudes with similar records is attempted and discussed. While the Stabre Glacier disappeared after the LIA, the nearby Tärna Glacier remains extant on the land surface, a presumed result of slight elevation differences between the two cirques which affects storm tracks and resultant variations in glacial mass balances.

Reconnaissance of the Hannibalic Route in the Upper Po Valley, Italy: Correlation with Biostratigraphic Historical Archaeological Evidence in the Upper Guil Valley, France

“…Such convolutions usually leave beds or laminae intact, that is, lacking a disrupted or mixed quality such as are evident in the churned‐up beds described here. In any case, heavy snowfall in the Western Alps provides an insulating medium that may counteract freeze–thaw processes in underlying soils (for examples of Cryosols, see Mahaney and Kalm ).…”

Holocene soils/paleosols in the okstindan mountains, nordland: stratigraphy and extractable fe and al

“…The degree of fracture damage is typical of glacial crushing but only ∼30% is attributable to LIA glacial processes, the remainder of grain surfaces carrying previously fractured microsurfaces affected by weathering during some earlier period, either during the Neoglacial or previous to it, possibly during the Altithermal (Atlantic chron, i.e. Mahaney and Kalm ). In some cases (<10%) degrees of etching are severe enough to qualify for reworking from Pleistocene interstadial/interglacial events.…”

“…, ; Bakke et al . ; Mahaney and Kalm , ). Still less is known of Fe/Al extracts in the area (Earl‐Goulet et al .…”