LATE PLEISTOCENE GLACIATIONS AND PALEOCLIMATE OF TURKEY

M. Akif SARIKAYA; Atilla ÇİNER

doi:https://doi.org/10.19111/bmre.35245

Article Details

LATE PLEISTOCENE GLACIATIONS AND PALEOCLIMATE OF TURKEY

Authors:

M. Akif SARIKAYA | Atilla ÇİNER

Publisher:

Maden Tetkik Arama Genel Müdürlüğü

Main Topics:

Applied physics

Journal:

Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration 2015 Vol.151 Issue 151, pp.107-127

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2015

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2000520330

Frequency:

Tri-annual

pISSN:

0026-4563

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19111/bmre.35245

Abstract:

 


Glaciers respond quickly to climatic  changes and thus
they are considered to be very accurate indicators of changes in atmospheric
conditions. Similarly, the extent of past glaciers gives valuable insights into
paleoclimatic changes. For this purpose, we reviewed the paleo-glaciated
mountains where cosmogenic surface exposure dating was applied in Turkey. We
also evaluated the paleoclimatic results obtained from these studies to provide
a regional overview. Twenty-seven mountains in Turkey are high enough to
support Quaternary valley glaciers or ice caps. The timing of glaciations was
reported mainly by cosmogenic dating of moraines. We re-evaluated the dated
sites and recalculated some of the published cosmogenic ages using the
up-to-date production rates. The oldest geochronological records reported from
the region belong to the glaciations before the globally defined Last Glacial
Maximum (LGM). These glaciers developed probably during the beginning of the
last glaciation (MIS 4; 71 ka ago) and stopped advancing at the end of the MIS
3 (at 29-35 ka ago). Later, glaciers expanded and reached to their most
extensive locations during MIS 2 (after 29 ka ago). They reached maximum
extents between 21.5 ka ago and 18.5 ka ago. This local-LGM was synchronous
with the global-LGM. After the LGM, the glaciers started to retreat to less
extensive positions and deposited their moraines ~16 ka ago during the Late
Glacial. The Younger Dryas (~12 ka ago) advances were also reported from a
limited number of mountains. Rare Early Holocene glaciations were dated to 8.5
ka in the interior regions. Late Holocene (1-4 ka ago) and Little Ice Age
(between 1300-1850 AD) advances were also observed. We reconstructed the
paleoclimate using glacier modeling together with paleoclimate proxy data from
several regions. The results show that LGM climate was 8-11°C colder than today
and moisture levels were 1.5 to 2 times in SW Turkey, somewhat similar to
modern values in central parts and 30 % drier in the NE. The Late Glacial was
colder by 4.5-6.4°C based on up to 50 % wetter conditions. The Early Holocene
was 2.1-4.9°C colder and up to twice as wet as today, while the Late Holocene
was 2.4-3°C colder and its precipitation amounts approached to similar
conditions as today.


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Article Details

LATE PLEISTOCENE GLACIATIONS AND PALEOCLIMATE OF TURKEY

Authors: M. Akif SARIKAYA | Atilla ÇİNER

Publisher: Maden Tetkik Arama Genel Müdürlüğü

Main Topics: Applied physics

Journal: Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration 2015 Vol.151 Issue 151, pp.107-127

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2015

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2000520330

Frequency: Tri-annual

pISSN: 0026-4563

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19111/bmre.35245

Issues

Authors:

M. Akif SARIKAYA | Atilla ÇİNER

Publisher:

Maden Tetkik Arama Genel Müdürlüğü

Main Topics:

Applied physics

Journal:

Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration 2015 Vol.151 Issue 151, pp.107-127

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2015

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2000520330

Frequency:

Tri-annual

pISSN:

0026-4563

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19111/bmre.35245