Geochronology Applied to Glacial Environments

In this chapter, we summarize the various dating techniques which can be relevant to the samples in a glacial environment. There are many different approaches to estimate the ages of glacial deposits. These can be a variety of methods using either the decay or in-growth of radionuclides, or the build-up of radiation dose measured in different ways. Other methods that can be used include dendrochronology, comparing the growth of annual bands in trees and studying annually layered sediments. Chemical changes such as amino-acid racemization can also be used, with an understanding of the kinetics of the processes involved. There are other more qualitative methods using the correlation of layers of identifiable materials such as volcanic ash layers, palaeomagnetic signals and biostratigraphic changes.