The Rhone Glacier was smaller than today for most of the Holocene

Brent M. Goehring; Joerg M. Schaefer; Christian Schluechter; Nathaniel A. Lifton; Robert C. Finkel; A. J.Timothy Jull; Naki Akçar; Richard B. Alley

doi:10.1130/G32145.1

The Rhone Glacier was smaller than today for most of the Holocene

Brent M. Goehring, Joerg M. Schaefer, Christian Schluechter, Nathaniel A. Lifton, Robert C. Finkel, A. J.Timothy Jull, Naki Akçar, Richard B. Alley

Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present the development and application of the novel in situ cosmogenic ¹⁴C/¹⁰Be chronometer to recently exposed proglacial bedrock of the Rhone Glacier, Switzerland. Results show that during the Holocene, the glacier was smaller than today for 6500 ± 2000 yr and larger than today for 4500 ± 2000 yr. This pattern is consistent with limited data from other techniques for glaciers in the Alps and Scandinavia, but in contrast to glaciers from the Southern Alps of New Zealand, emphasizing the high sensitivity of large mountain glaciers to small climate changes. The ¹⁴C/¹⁰Be chronometer also shows that abrasion rates beneath the Rhone Glacier increased with ice speed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	679-682
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geology
Volume	39
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1130/G32145.1
State	Published - Jul 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geology

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abstract = "We present the development and application of the novel in situ cosmogenic 14C/10Be chronometer to recently exposed proglacial bedrock of the Rhone Glacier, Switzerland. Results show that during the Holocene, the glacier was smaller than today for 6500 ± 2000 yr and larger than today for 4500 ± 2000 yr. This pattern is consistent with limited data from other techniques for glaciers in the Alps and Scandinavia, but in contrast to glaciers from the Southern Alps of New Zealand, emphasizing the high sensitivity of large mountain glaciers to small climate changes. The 14C/10Be chronometer also shows that abrasion rates beneath the Rhone Glacier increased with ice speed.",

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AU - Goehring, Brent M.

AU - Schaefer, Joerg M.

AU - Schluechter, Christian

AU - Lifton, Nathaniel A.

AU - Finkel, Robert C.

AU - Jull, A. J.Timothy

AU - Akçar, Naki

AU - Alley, Richard B.

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The Rhone Glacier was smaller than today for most of the Holocene

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