Neoglaciation in the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia: chronology prior to the late Neoglacial maximum

Abstract

Moraine stratigraphy and morphology, radiocarbon dates from Klinaklini, Franklin, Tiedemann, Gilbert, and Bridge glaciers, and related information from elsewhere in the Coast Mountains are used to construct a chronology for glacier fluctuations. The Garibaldi phase of glacier expansion, 6000–5000 14C years BP, at the end of the early Holocene xerothermic interval, is indicated by overridden tree stumps. The mid-Neoglacial Tiedemann advance, 3300–1900 14C years BP, is represented by moraines, till, and meltwater sediments at three glaciers, but only Tiedemann Glacier attained its greatest Holocene extent at this time. Late Neoglacial expansion commenced before 900 14C years BP and continued without notable interruption until glaciers achieved their maximum post-Pleistocene expansion during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Evidence for the Garibaldi and Tiedemann events is scarce within the Coast Mountains because of the more extensive late Neoglacial advance. However, correlative advances have been recognized in adjacent mountains within British Columbia, Washington, and Alaska.

Little Ice Age history of Tzeetsaytsul Glacier, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, British Columbia

“…Luckman, 1995), they do confirm the general synchroneity of LIA glacier fluctuations within the NW coastal Cordillera (Ryder and Thomson, 1986;Clague and Mathews, 1996;Calkin et al, 1998;Wiles et al, 1999). Recognition of regional similarities in glacial activity suggests a common response, most likely attributable to climatic forcing.…”

“…Records from coastal British Columbia and nearby Alaska indicate that there were three main episodes of LIA glacial activity (Wiles et al, 1999 ;Luckman and Villalba, in press). In the early-LIA, radiocarbon and dendrochronological evidence illustrates that glaciers advanced throughout the 13th and 14th centuries (Ryder and Thomson, 1986;Ryder, 1987;Desloges and Ryder, 1990;Wiles et al, 1999). This episode was followed by a hiatus, until late-LIA glacial advances in the 17th and 19th centuries (Ryder and Thomson, 1986;Ryder, 1987;Desloges and Ryder, 1990;Clague and Mathewes, 1996;Calkin et al, 1998).…”

Postglacial vegetation and climate dynamics in the Seymour‐Belize Inlet Complex, central coastal British Columbia, Canada: palynological evidence from Tiny Lake

“…Both species require wet and cool conditions, so their occurrence at Tiny Lake at this time is interpreted to mark the establishment of a modern temperate and wet climate (Krajina, 1969). This event is correlative with the onset of cooler and moister conditions (Porter and Denton, 1967;Mathewes, 1973;Ryder and Thompson, 1986;Luckman et al, 1993). Peak expansion of Cupressaceae at Tiny Lake at ca.…”

Essai

“…Rothlisberger (1976), Luckman (1988b) et Ryder et Thomson (1986) ont élaboré une méthodologie plus géné-rale de l'interprétation glaciologique qui peut être tirée des bois recueillis en surface ou dans des coupes stratigraphiques des dépôts du domaine proglaciaire. L'interprétation dépend de la localisation, de l'âge et de la nature des échantillons (par ex., présence d'écorce, état de conservation du bois), du degré d'abrasion glaciaire, de la localisation du subfossile par rapport à la limite actuelle des arbres, etc.…”