藏东南波堆藏布江谷地古冰碛堰塞湖初步研究

藏东南作为青藏高原内外动力作用最强烈的地区之一,是河流堰塞-溃决洪水链式灾害频发地区。研究该区域古堰塞湖的形成与演化,对认识、评估灾害风险具有重要意义。研究结果表明,波堆藏布江谷地保存有一套湖相沉积地层,通过地貌填图和光释光测年等手段,并结合前人研究成果,推测海因里希事件1(H1)以来波堆藏布江谷地可能发生了一期古堰塞湖事件。该古堰塞湖可能是由波堆藏布江侧蚀白玉沟沟口冰碛垄,致使冰碛物滑塌并阻江形成的,古湖的最大湖面面积约为18.8km2,库容蓄水量约为0.13km3。该古堰塞湖的形成时间可能介于H1～10ka之间,其溃决时间可能在～6ka之后,后期河流溯源侵蚀及下切作用形成了多级以湖相地层为基座的阶地。     

藏东南波堆藏布江流域古乡冰期冰川重建

“古乡冰期”是青藏高原第四纪冰川作用中最具代表性的冰期之一,指代的是倒数第二次冰期,其命名依据来源于藏东南波堆藏布江谷地、保存于古乡一带的终碛-侧碛垄,已有的宇宙成因核素¹⁰Be暴露测年结果显示其发生于海洋氧同位素阶段（MIS）6。然而,古乡冰期时波堆藏布江流域冰川作用范围、冰量及平衡线高度（ELA）等关键信息,仍有待进一步研究。结合冰川地貌野外考察、高清遥感影像/卫星照片及绝对数值年龄,对波堆藏布江流域古乡冰期时的冰川作用范围进行了重建,在此基础上结合数字高程模型,运用冰面纵剖面模型对波堆藏布江流域古乡冰期时古冰川进行了数值模拟。结果显示：古乡冰期时流域内冰川的平均厚度约360 m,冰川总面积为2 648 km2,体积约为953 km3,流域内的冰川覆盖率由古乡冰期时的63%缩减至现在的22.4%。此外,运用积累区面积比率（AAR）法和末端-源头高度比率（THAR）法对波堆藏布江流域现代和古乡冰期时的冰川平衡线高度进行了估算。其中,现代冰川ELA为4 455 m,基于反距离加权法插值的古冰面高程计算出古乡冰期时ELA为3 871 m,比现代ELA低了584 m,古冰川ELA估算结果与前人结果基本一致。     

西藏东南部末次冰期早阶段冰川作用及其古气候意义

西藏东南部的“古乡冰期”和“白玉冰期”是划分中国第四纪冰期的蓝本。其中,白玉冰期即末次冰期,分为早阶段和晚阶段,相对应的冰川沉积广泛分布于本区的波堆藏布谷地。已有的冰川数值年代结果显示,末次冰期晚阶段的冰川作用发生于海洋氧同位素阶段（MIS）2。然而,关于早阶段的冰进记录,目前却未有确切的年代学证据,此次冰川作用究竟发生于MIS 4还是MIS 3,是一个悬而未决的问题。在前人研究及野外地貌调查的基础上,运用光释光测年手段对波堆藏布谷地疑似形成于末次冰期早阶段的冰碛垄进行测年,年代结果介于（56.4±4.2）~（65.9±3.9） ka之间,相当于MIS 4。藏东南地区MIS 4冰期冰川作用年代与青藏高原及其周边山地具有可比性,表明该阶段冰川作用发生的普遍性。通过对比北半球低纬度地区夏季太阳辐射及亚洲季风区古气温与古降水指标记录,认为藏东南地区MIS 4冰期冰川作用可能是对北半球低纬度地区夏季太阳辐射减弱及气温下降的响应,与季风降水无关。     

西藏札达盆地及周缘高山区第四纪冰川遗迹与冰期的初步划分和对比

札达盆地及周缘高山区的第四纪冰川遗迹分布广泛,类型齐全、发育连续.特征的冰碛及冰水堆积地貌有:冰水堆积平原或冰水堆积平台、冰碛丘陵等.挤压构造遗迹有:褶皱、断裂表皮构造、压坑、压裂构造、变形砾石等.ESR年代测定结果表明,冰碛形成的最大年龄为2.33Ma.依据冰碛、冰水堆积的特征、分布和形成年代等,区域冰川发育由老到新可划分出:7次冰期、6次间冰期、1次冰缘期、1次新冰期.该区是目前所知青藏高原第四纪冰川遗迹发现最多、保存最全和发育最连续的地区,为青藏高原地区的第四纪冰川演化研究、冰期的划分和对比、古气候古环境的研究,提供了重要的实际资料和依据.      

山地冰川冰消后（paraglacial）沉积的粒度与石英颗粒表面特征——以贡嘎山东坡为例

冰期向间冰期转换或现代全球气候变暖等背景下,冰川一旦退缩就会引发基岩和冰碛边坡失稳,甚至冰川泥石流等冰消后（paraglacial）地表过程;因此,该过程成为驱动原冰川作用区及其下游谷地地貌演化的重要因子。然而,冰消后过程时空变化特征及其驱动因子等相关研究,目前仍面临两方面问题：其一,各种冰消后沉积、冰碛等混杂堆积间判别的手段缺乏;其二,冰消后过程对下游谷地演化影响的关注不足。为此,本文以典型海洋型冰川作用区——贡嘎山东坡的冰碛和冰消后沉积为研究对象,并结合两处大陆型冰川冰碛,探讨了粒度和石英颗粒表面形态特征两个指标区分上述混杂堆积的有效性。结果表明,各种冰消后沉积物继承了源区冰碛的很多特征,但也呈现出一定独特性,指示出这两个指标综合对比的方法能实现各类冰消后沉积、冰碛的有效判别;同时,鉴于冰川性质、冰川作用期次和岩性等因素都可能影响源区冰碛的粒度和石英颗粒表面形态,以这两个指标判别时应限于同区域,避免选用沉积物的共性特征。基于贡嘎山东坡冰碛、各种冰消后沉积物与磨西台地不同层位粒度与石英颗粒表面形态的对比和聚类分析,确认台地底部和中部可能分别为MIS3冰碛与MIS3以来的泥石流沉积,上...     

希夏邦马峰东南富曲河谷的冰川沉积和冰川构造

在希夏邦马峰（海拔８０１２ｍ）东南富曲河谷，中更新世以来有三次冰期；即聂拉木、富曲和普罗冰期。它们均可再分为两个亚阶段。聂拉木南的高冰碛平台长３.５ｍ，宽１.５ｋｍ，厚２００ｍ。属于中更新世聂拉木冰期（聂聂雄拉冰期）的巨大山谷冰川沉积，中尼公路从高冰碛平台尾端通过，形成数公里长的冰碛剖面，呈现出美丽多姿的冰川成因类型沉积和冰川构造现象，包括冰下，冰上融出碛，冰内.冰下河道沉积，冰湖沉积，坠碛，流磺等。冰川运动时造成的冰川构造，如断层、滑动面-…等也很清楚，代表了海洋型（暖冰川）冰川沉积和冰川构造特征，是中国目前研究冰川构造最理想的场所。     

天山玛纳斯河源鹿角湾冰川地貌与冰期序列

在鹿角湾冰川区40 km²的考察范围内,共发育了18个冰斗.按斗底高度的不同,可以将18个冰斗分成3个高度等级,分别代表了3次雪线高度不同的冰进.冰斗朝向以偏北为主,说明水热条件对冰斗发育是限制因素.18号冰斗和2号冰斗朝向偏南,说明其所代表的冰进阶段水热条件组合有利于冰川的长期存在,从而发育了大规模的向阳冰斗.鹿角湾冰川共发育了10道保存比较完整的冰碛垄,按冰碛垄表面特征和产出位置,结合测年资料,将10道冰碛垄划分为5套冰碛地层.对冰碛垄上所采冰碛土样品进行年代测试的结果是:冰碛丘陵上组地层属于小冰期沉积,较早的两次冰进结束时间为(680±60)a BP和(250±60)a BP;冰碛丘陵组地层属于新冰期沉积,3次冰进结束年代分别为:(4.2±0.4)ka BP,(2.9±0.3)ka BP,(1720±60)a BP;末次冰期晚期结束年代为1.1~1.2 ka BP.其它几次冰进阶段未能取得可信的测年数据.     

青藏高原第四纪大陆冰盖形成的野外证据

青藏高原第四纪大陆冰盖形成的各种各样冰川遗迹,分布十分广泛。是重建和研究古大陆冰盖最有力的证据。目前发现和比较肯定的冰蚀遗迹有:冰蚀平原、冰蚀丘陵、U形谷、冰蚀洼地、冰盆、冰阶、冰笕、冰坡和基岩鼓丘等。冰碛遗迹主要有:块砾碛、鳍碛(新类型)、漂砾碛(新类型)、冰水砂砾岩、和冰碛丘陵、冰台及侧碛堤等。从大陆冰盖遗迹分布连续和普遍发育,证明青藏高原在第四纪时期曾形成连绵一片的统一的大陆冰盖。大陆冰盖形成的时期为早更新世,形成时的古雪线的海拔高度最多在2000m左右,冰川类型属于海洋性统一大陆冰川。     

喜马拉雅山佩枯岗日冰川地貌的年代学、平衡线高度和气候研究

喜马拉雅山珠穆朗玛峰-希夏邦马峰地区是青藏高原南部现代冰川集中发育区之一,古冰川遗迹亦十分丰富,是研究第四纪青藏高原冰川形成和演化的关键区,一直备受地貌和第四纪环境研究者的关注.应用原地宇宙核素10Be暴露年龄测试技术,对采自希夏邦马峰西北佩枯岗日拉曲谷地冰碛垄上的冰川漂砾进行年代学研究;结合冰川地貌分析方法,对古冰川...     

天山布拉特沟的地貌制图(摘要)(英文)

天山布拉特沟是乌鲁木齐河源的一个支流,通过野外调查编绘了1:25000比例尺的布拉特沟地貌图。本图作为野外地貌工作的总结,集中地反映了本区的冰川、冰缘及重力流水地貌形态,区分了各形态的分布、成因及形态特征,是地貌图的说明书。 本区是现代冰川作用区之一,冰川地貌是主要的地貌形态。分布于谷地源头的现代冰川有3条,雪线高度约4000m,并处于退缩状态。冰川的主要地貌类型计有冰斗、槽谷,羊背石和冰碛垅等。呈现多道分布的冰碛垅(包括年轻冰碛垅和四个阶段的老冰碛垅),反映了冰川作用的演变过程。石冰川和泥石坡等冰缘地貌形态也广泛分布于此。其他重力地貌和流水地貌类型也比较齐全。这表明布拉特沟是一个典型的高山地貌,冰川与冰缘地貌广泛分布的区域。现有地貌形态在排列分布上呈现不对称状况,这主要是由于气候因素作用的结果。所有这些特征与乌鲁木齐河主谷的特征相似,冰川序列也与主谷平行。     

The genesis and significance of ‘hummocky moraine’: Evidence from the Isle of Skye, Scotland

The range of genetic and climatic interpretations of Scottish ‘hummocky moraine’ is reviewed, and new data are presented from the Isle of Skye, western Scotland, which are used as the basis of a genetic classification. ‘Hummocky moraine’ on Skye is shown to consist of three principal sediment-landform associations: (1) recessional moraines; (2) chaotic ice-stagnation moraines; and (3) drumlins and fluted moraines. The recessional moraines consist of transverse moraine ridges and chains of mounds, and were formed by a combination of glaciotectonics and debris accumulation at active ice margins. Second, chaotic moraines consist of randomly-distributed hummocks, mounds and rim-ridges and record deposition in contact with inactive ice. Finally, drumlins and fluted moraines are longitudinally-oriented subglacial bedforms formed by a combination of lodgement and sediment deformation. Individual occurrences of ‘hummocky moraine’ may comprise one, two or all of these associations. The detailed study and differentiation of Scottish ‘hummocky moraine’ provides a valuable source of information on former glacier dynamics and landscape change.     

Controlled moraines: origins,characteristics and palaeoglaciological implications

Controlled moraines are supraglacial debris concentrations that become hummocky moraine upon de-icing and possess clear linearity due to the inheritance of the former pattern of debris-rich folia in the parent ice. Linearity is most striking wherever glacier ice cores still exist but it increasingly deteriorates with progressive melt-out. As a result, moraine linearity has a low preservation potential in deglaciated terrains but hummocky moraine tracts previously interpreted as evidence of areal stagnation may instead record receding polythermal glacier margins in which debris-rich ice was concentrated in frozen toe zones. Recent applications of modern glaciological analogues to palaeoglaciological reconstructions have implied that: (a) controlled moraine development can be ascribed to a specific process (e.g. englacial thrusting or supercooling); and (b) controlled moraine preservation potential is good enough to imply the occurrence of the specific process in former glacier snouts (e.g. ancient polythermal or supercooled snouts). These assumptions are tested using case studies of controlled moraine construction in which a wide range of debris entrainment and debris-rich ice thickening mechanisms are seen to produce the same geomorphic features. Polythermal conditions are crucial to the concentration of supraglacial debris and controlled moraines in glacier snouts via processes that are most effective at the glacier–permafrost interface. End moraines lie on a process–form continuum constrained by basal thermal regime. The morphological expression of englacial structures in controlled moraine ridges is most striking while the moraines retain ice cores, but the final deposits/landforms tend to consist of discontinuous transverse ridges with intervening hummocks, preserving only a weak impression of the former englacial structure. These are arranged in arcuate zones of hummocky moraine up to 2 km wide containing ice-walled lake plains and lying down flow of streamlined landforms produced by warm-based ice. A variety of debris entrainment mechanisms can produce the same geomorphic signature. Spatial and temporal variability in process–form relationships will lead to the sequential development of different types of end moraines during the recession of a glacier or ice sheet margin.     

Re-interpretation of ‘hummocky moraine’ in the Gaick,Scotland, as erosional remnants: Implications for palaeoglacier dynamics

Many glaciated valleys in Scotland contain distinctive, closely spaced ridges and mounds, which have been termed ‘hummocky moraine’. The ridges and mounds are widely interpreted as ice-marginal moraines, constructed during active retreat of mainly temperate glaciers. However, hummocky terrain can form by various processes in glacial environments, and it may relate to a range of contrasting glaciodynamic regimes. Thus, detailed geomorphological and sedimentological studies of hummocky surfaces in Scottish glaciated valleys are important for robust interpretations of former depositional environments and glacier dynamics. In this contribution, we examine irregularly shaped ridges and mounds that occur outside the limits of former Loch Lomond Readvance (≈ Younger Dryas; ~ 12.9–11.7 ka) glaciers in the Gaick, Central Scotland. These ridges and mounds are intimately associated with series of sinuous channels, and their planform shape mimics the form of the adjacent channels. Available exposures through ridges in one valley reveal that those particular ridges contain lacustrine, subglacial, and glaciofluvial sediments. The internal sedimentary architecture is not related to the surface morphology; thus, we interpret the irregularly shaped ridges and mounds as erosional remnants (or interfluves). Based on the forms and spatial arrangement of the associated channels, we suggest that the ridges and mounds were generated by a combination of ice-marginal and proglacial glaciofluvial incision of glaciogenic sediments. The evidence for glaciofluvial incision, rather than ice-marginal moraine formation, at pre-Loch Lomond Readvance glacier margins in the Gaick may reflect differences in glaciodynamic regimes and/or efficient debris delivery from the glacier margins to the glaciofluvial systems.     

Middle‐Late Pleistocene Glacial Lakes in the Grand Canyon of the Tsangpo River,Tibet

Many moraines formed between Daduka and Chibai in the Tsangpo River valley since Middle Pleistocene. A prominent set of lacustrine and alluvial terraces on the valley margin along both the Tsangpo and Nyang Rivers formed during Quaternary glacial epoch demonstrate lakes were created by damming of the river. Research was conducted on the geological environment, contained sediments, spatial distribution, timing, and formation and destruction of these paleolakes. The lacustrine sediments 14C (10537±268 aBP at Linzhi Brick and Tile Factory, 22510±580 aBP and 13925±204 aBP at Bengga, 21096±1466 aBP at Yusong) and a series of ESR (electron spin resonance) ages at Linzhi town and previous data by other experts, paleolakes persisted for 691~505 kaBP middle Pleistocene ice age, 75–40 kaBP the early stage of last glacier, 27–8 kaBP Last Glacier Maximum (LGM), existence time of lakes gradually shorten represents glacial scale and dam moraine supply potential gradually cut down, paleolakes and dam scale also gradually diminished. This article calculated the average lacustrine sedimentary rate of Gega paleolake in LGM was 12.5 mm/a, demonstrates Mount Namjagbarwa uplifted strongly at the same time, the sedimentary rate of Gega paleolake is more larger than that of enclosed lakes of plateau inland shows the climatic variation of Mount Namjagbarwa is more larger and plateau margin uplifted more quicker than plateau inland. This article analyzed formation and decay cause about the Zelunglung glacier on the west flank of Mount Namjagbarwa got into the Tsangpo River valley and blocked it for tectonic and climatic factors. There is a site of blocking the valley from Gega to Chibai. This article according to moraines and lacustrine sediments yielded paleolakes scale: the lowest lake base altitude 2850 m, the highest lake surface altitude 3585 m, 3240 m and 3180 m, area 2885 km2, 820 km2 and 810 km2, lake maximum depth of 735 m, 390 m and 330 m. We disclose the reason that previous experts discovered there were different age moraines dividing line of altitude 3180 m at the entrance of the Tsangpo Grand Canyon is dammed lake erosive decay under altitude 3180 m moraines in the last glacier era covering moraines in the early ice age of late Pleistocene, top 3180 m in the last glacier moraine remained because ancient dammed lakes didn’t erode it under 3180 m moraines in the early ice age of late Pleistocene exposed. The reason of the top elevation 3585 m moraines in the middle Pleistocene ice age likes that of altitude 3180 m. There were three times dammed lakes by glacier blocking the Tsangpo River during Quaternary glacial period. During other glacial and interglacial period the Zelunglung glacier often extended the valley but moraine supplemental speed of the dam was smaller than that of fluvial erosion and moraine movement, dam quickly disappeared and didn’t form stable lake.     

Hummocky moraine: sedimentary record of stagnant Laurentide Ice Sheet lobes resting on soft beds

Over large areas of the western interior plains of North America, hummocky moraine (HM) formed at the margins of Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) lobes that flowed upslope against topographic highs. Current depositional models argue that HM was deposited supraglacially from stagnant debris-rich ice (`disintegration moraine'). Across southern Alberta, Canada, map and outcrop data show that HM is composed of fine-grained till as much as 25 m thick containing rafts of soft, glaciotectonized bedrock and sediment. Chaotic, non-oriented HM commonly passes downslope into weakly-oriented hummocks (`washboard moraine') that are transitional to drumlins in topographic lows; the same subsurface stratigraphy and till facies is present throughout. These landforms, and others such as doughnut-like `rim ridges', flat-topped `moraine plateaux' and linear disintegration ridges, are identified as belonging to subglacially-deposited soft-bed terrain. This terrain is the record of ice lobes moving over deformation till derived from weakly-lithified, bentonite-rich shale. Drumlins record continued active ice flow in topographic lows during deglaciation whereas HM was produced below the outer stagnant margins of ice lobes by gravitational loading (`pressing') of remnant dead ice blocks into wet, plastic till. Intervening zones of washboard moraine mark the former boundary of active and stagnant ice and show `hybrid' drumlins whose streamlined form has been altered by subglacial pressing (`humdrums') below dead ice. The presence of hummocky moraine over a very large area of interior North America provides additional support for glaciological models of a soft-bedded Laurentide Ice Sheet.     

Seafloor glacial features reveal the extent and decay of the last British Ice Sheet,east of Scotland

Three‐dimensional (3D) seismic datasets, 2D seismic reflection profiles and shallow cores provide insights into the geometry and composition of glacial features on the continental shelf, offshore eastern Scotland (58° N, 1–2° W). The relic features are related to the activity of the last British Ice Sheet (BIS) in the Outer Moray Firth. A landsystem assemblage consisting of four types of subglacial and ice marginal morphology is mapped at the seafloor. The assemblage comprises: (i) large seabed banks (interpreted as end moraines), coeval with the Bosies Bank moraine; (ii) morainic ridges (hummocky, push and end moraine) formed beneath, and at the margins of the ice sheet; (iii) an incised valley (a subglacial meltwater channel), recording meltwater drainage beneath former ice sheets; and (iv) elongate ridges and grooves (subglacial bedforms) overprinted by transverse ridges (grounding line moraines). The bedforms suggest that fast‐flowing grounded ice advanced eastward of the previously proposed terminus of the offshore Late Weichselian BIS, increasing the size and extent of the ice sheet beyond traditional limits. Complex moraine formation at the margins of less active ice characterised subsequent retreat, with periodic stillstands and readvances. Observations are consistent with interpretations of a dynamic and oscillating ice margin during BIS deglaciation, and with an extensive ice sheet in the North Sea basin at the Last Glacial Maximum. Final ice margin retreat was rapid, manifested in stagnant ice topography, which aided preservation of the landsystem record. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genesis of hummocky moraine in the Bolmen area, southwestern Sweden

During the late Weichselian deglaciation of southern Scandinavia vast areas of hummocky moraine were formed. The genesis of this landform was studied by geomorphological and sedimentological methods in an area in southwestern Sweden. Four exposures in moraine hummocks were investigated using sedimentological methods. They were found to be composed of stratified diamictons with frost-shattered boulders and deformed intrabeds of sorted sediments. The diamictons were interpreted as sediment-flow deposits, with the hummocks formed in stagnant ice by flowage of supraglacial glacial debris into depressions and subsequent inversion of the landscape due to ice melt. With the exception of hummocky moraine, the study area contains low relief moraine, which like the hummocky moraine was supraglacially formed. A new model is presented where the distribution of hummocky and low relief moraine is dependent on the vertical distribution of glacial debris in the ice sheet, which in turn is related to the flow regime of the ice sheet prior to stagnation. A compressive flow before stagnation favoured development of the hummocky moraine, while low relief moraine formation occurred where the ice flow was extending or at steady state.     

川西螺髻山清水沟倒数第二次冰期以来的冰川规模与古气候重建

川西螺髻山清水沟保存着倒数第二次冰期（MIS 6）、末次冰期早期（MIS 4）和末次冰期晚期（MIS 2）较为完好的冰川沉积序列,该序列为螺髻山地区晚第四纪古环境重建提供了直接依据。基于野外地貌考察和冰川地貌特征确定出古冰川分布范围,计算古冰川物质平衡线高度（ELA）,应用P-T模型和LR模型计算出各冰期时段的气温与降水。结果显示：清水沟MIS 6、MIS 4和MIS 2的冰川面积分别为3.44 km²、2.22 km²和1.20 km²,冰川体积分别为0.19 km³、0.12 km³和0.07 km³。各期次的古ELA分别为3 132 m、3 776 m和3 927 m,相对于现代ELA分别下降了1 716 m、1 071 m和920 m。冰川规模受气温和降水的共同影响,MIS 6气温大幅下降（8~12 ℃）是导致该阶段冰川规模最大的原因;MIS 4降水为现在的80%左右,而气温下降幅度（6~7 ℃）小于倒数第二次冰期,冰川规模小于倒数第二次冰期;MIS 2降水仅为现在的60%~80%,降温幅度（4~8 ℃）也不大,因此该阶段冰川规模最小。     

Processes of annual moraine formation at a temperate alpine valley glacier: insights into glacier dynamics and climatic controls

This paper presents the first detailed sedimentological study of annual moraines formed by an alpine valley glacier. The moraines have been forming since at least AD 1980 by a subsidiary lobe of Gornergletscher, Switzerland that advances up a reverse bedrock slope. They reach heights of 0.5–1.5 m, widths of up to 6 m and lengths of up to several hundreds of metres. Sediments in these moraines are composed of proglacial outwash and debris flow units; subglacial traction till is absent entirely. Based on four representative sections, three genetic process combinations have been identified: (i) inefficient bulldozing of a gently sloping ice margin transfers proglacial sediments onto the ice, causing differential ablation and dead‐ice incorporation upon retreat; (ii) terrestrial ice‐contact fans are formed by the dumping of englacial and supraglacial material from point sources such as englacial conduit fills; debris flows and associated fluvial sediments are stacked against a temporarily stationary margin at the start, and deformed during glacier advance in the remainder, of the accumulation season; (iii) a steep ice margin without supraglacial input leads to efficient bulldozing and deformation of pre‐existing foreland sediments by wholesale folding. Ice‐surface slope appears to be a key control on the type of process responsible for moraine formation in any given place and year. The second and third modes result in stable and higher moraines that have a higher preservation potential than those containing dead ice. Analysis of the spacing and climatic records at Gornergletscher reveals that winter temperature controls marginal retreat and hence moraine formation. However, any climatic signal is complicated by other factors, most notably the presence of a reverse bedrock slope, so that the extraction of a clear climatic signal is not straightforward. This study highlights the complexity of annual moraine formation in high‐mountain environments and suggests avenues for further research.     

The history of glaciation of the Rolwaling and Kangchenjunga Himalayas

The extent of the Postglacial is characterized by a main end moraine, which is called Great Lateral Moraine. In general its outer slope is very steep and the recent ice terminal retreated inwards and lost much volume. Between this stage of historical/latest Neoglacial an ice marginal position was found, which can only be classified into the earliest Neoglacial because of its glaciogeomorphic position. It lies ca. 5–6 km outside of the historical moraines and leads to snow line depressions of 300–600 m. This stage can not mixed up with the latest Late Glacial stage. Relating to the Late Glacial only moraine terraces or remnants were found in the steep valleys. In the Kangchenjunga Valley there is a large end moraine complex of Late Glacial at 2700 m, 27 km down-valley of the recent glacier termini and in the Yalung Valley (Simbua Khola, Kangchenjunga SW) we found a lateral moraine wall 600 m above the valley bottom of Torontan. In the Rolwaling Valley several indicators imply a former glaciation of the whole valley, which stretches out into the Bhote Kosi. In consideration of the maximum glaciation of Last Glacial (LGM) which has extended lower than 1000 m in the investigated areas it can be assumed that the levels of moraines valley- inwards are younger. Snow line depressions of 300–600 m for the Neoglacial (earliest stage) and 900–1200 m for the Late Glacial can be calculated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.