Glacial–interglacial cycles in the south-central and southeastern Pyrenees since ~180 ka (NE Spain–Andorra–S France)

Turu, Valenti; Peña-Monné, Jose Luís; Cunha, Pedro P.; Jalut, Guy; Buylaert, Jan-Pieter; Murray, Andrew S.; Bridgland, David; Faurschou-Knudsen, Mads; Oliva, Marc; Carrasco, Rosa M.; Ros, Xavier; Turu-Font, Laia; Ventura Roca, Josep

Abstract

This study uses luminescence and 14C accelerator mass spectrometry procedures to date relevant glaciofluvial and glacial deposits from the south-central and southeastern Pyrenees (Andorra–France–Spain). We distinguish two types of end-moraine complexes: (1) those in which at least a far-flung moraine exists beyond a frequently nested end-moraine complex (the most common) and (2) those in which a closenested end moraine encompasses at least two glacial cycles. Both types formed within six distinctive glacial intervals: (1) A penultimate glacial cycle during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 6 and older glaciofluvial terraces occurred beyond the range of the luminescence dating method. (2) An early glacial advance in MIS 5d (∼97 −15/+19 ka) was followed by glacial retreat during MIS 5c (< 91 ± 9 ka). (3) The last maximum ice extent (LMIE) was in early MIS 4 (∼74 ± 4.5 ka). (4) Unexpectedly, glaciers thinned during the second half of MIS 3 (∼39 −6/+11 ka). (5) During the MIS 3–2 transition, glaciers subsequently fluctuated behind the LMIE limits. (6) The global last glacial maximum (LGM) started as early as ∼26.6 ± 0.365 ka b2k, and the corresponding end moraines were built behind the LMIE limits or merged with it, forming close-nested moraines.

Citation

Turu, V., Peña-Monné, J. L., Cunha, P. P., Jalut, G., Buylaert, J., Murray, A. S., …Ventura Roca, J. (in press). Glacial–interglacial cycles in the south-central and southeastern Pyrenees since ~180 ka (NE Spain–Andorra–S France). Quaternary Research, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2022.68

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 17, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jan 26, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 7, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 24, 2023
• Journal: Quaternary Research
• Print ISSN: 0033-5894
• Electronic ISSN: 1096-0287
• Publisher: Academic Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-28
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2022.68