Paleo Glacier Dynamics

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The overall aim of P6 is to contribute to the reconstruction of the Late Pleistocene climate and landscape evolution of the Bale Mountains during the early phase of human occupation by studying past glaciations, glacier variations and periglacial processes. In Phase 1, research of P6 focused on the timing and spatial extent of former glaciations as a prerequisite to identify habitable areas (of interest for P1 and P2) in the upper valleys and on the Sanetti Plateau. Based on the established glacial chronology, it was demonstrated (in collaboration with P1 and P2) that the prehistoric presence of humans coincided with a period of extensive glaciation. However, the climate and glacier variations between the mapped and dated moraine stages remain poorly understood. In Phase 2, P6 therefore aims to expand geomorphological mapping and surface exposure dating by glacier mass balance and ice-flow modelling in order to reconstruct the continuous glacier variability, quantify the available amount of glacial meltwater in the valleys (relevant for P1) and determine (in cooperation with P3, P5, P7 and C2) temperature and precipitation changes over the last glacial cycle.