Rapid age assessment of glacial landforms in the Pyrenees using Schmidt hammer exposure dating (SHED)

Matt D. Tomkins; Jason M. Dortch; Philip D. Hughes; Jonny J. Huck; Andrew G. Stimson; Magali Delmas; Marc Calvet; Raimon Pallàs

doi:10.1017/qua.2018.12

Rapid age assessment of glacial landforms in the Pyrenees using Schmidt hammer exposure dating (SHED)

Matt D. Tomkins, Jason M. Dortch, Philip D. Hughes, Jonny J. Huck, Andrew G. Stimson, Magali Delmas, Marc Calvet, Raimon Pallàs

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

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Schmidt hammer (SH) sampling of 54 ¹⁰Be-dated granite surfaces from the Pyrenees reveals a clear relationship between exposure and weathering through time (n=52, R ²=0.96, P<0.01) and permits the use of the SH as a numerical dating tool. To test this ¹⁰Be-SH calibration curve, 100 surfaces were sampled from five ice-front positions in the Têt catchment, eastern Pyrenees, with results verified against independent ¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C ages. Gaussian modelling differentiates Holocene (9.4±0.6 ka), Younger Dryas (12.6±0.9 ka), Oldest Dryas (16.1±0.5 ka), last glacial maximum (LGM; 24.8±0.9 ka) and Würmian maximum ice extent stages (MIE; 40.9±1.1 ka). These data confirm comparable glacier lengths during the LGM and MIE (∼300 m difference), in contrast to evidence from the western Pyrenees (≥15 km), reflecting the relative influence of Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. Moreover, Pyrenean glaciers advanced significantly during the LGM, with a local maximum at ∼25 ka, driven by growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, southward advection of the polar front, and a solar radiation minimum in the Northern Hemisphere. This calibration curve is available online (http://shed.earth) to enable wider application of this method throughout the Pyrenees.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	26-37
Number of pages	12
Journal	Quaternary Research (United States)
Volume	90
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2018.12
State	Published - Jul 1 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This project was supported by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) with a Dudley Stamp Memorial Award and by the University of Manchester SEED Fieldwork Support Fund.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 University of Washington.

Funding

This project was supported by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) with a Dudley Stamp Memorial Award and by the University of Manchester SEED Fieldwork Support Fund.

Funders	Funder number
Royal Geographical Society with IBG

Keywords

Geomorphology
Glacier chronology
Last glacial maximum
Pyrenees
Schmidt hammer exposure dating
Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Earth-Surface Processes
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Access to Document

10.1017/qua.2018.12

Cite this

@article{cf598ee68c4844a0a87f1c1c4b9680a6,

title = "Rapid age assessment of glacial landforms in the Pyrenees using Schmidt hammer exposure dating (SHED)",

abstract = "Schmidt hammer (SH) sampling of 54 10Be-dated granite surfaces from the Pyrenees reveals a clear relationship between exposure and weathering through time (n=52, R 2=0.96, P<0.01) and permits the use of the SH as a numerical dating tool. To test this 10Be-SH calibration curve, 100 surfaces were sampled from five ice-front positions in the T{\^e}t catchment, eastern Pyrenees, with results verified against independent 10Be and 14C ages. Gaussian modelling differentiates Holocene (9.4±0.6 ka), Younger Dryas (12.6±0.9 ka), Oldest Dryas (16.1±0.5 ka), last glacial maximum (LGM; 24.8±0.9 ka) and W{\"u}rmian maximum ice extent stages (MIE; 40.9±1.1 ka). These data confirm comparable glacier lengths during the LGM and MIE (∼300 m difference), in contrast to evidence from the western Pyrenees (≥15 km), reflecting the relative influence of Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. Moreover, Pyrenean glaciers advanced significantly during the LGM, with a local maximum at ∼25 ka, driven by growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, southward advection of the polar front, and a solar radiation minimum in the Northern Hemisphere. This calibration curve is available online (http://shed.earth) to enable wider application of this method throughout the Pyrenees.",

keywords = "Geomorphology, Glacier chronology, Last glacial maximum, Pyrenees, Schmidt hammer exposure dating, Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating",

author = "Tomkins, {Matt D.} and Dortch, {Jason M.} and Hughes, {Philip D.} and Huck, {Jonny J.} and Stimson, {Andrew G.} and Magali Delmas and Marc Calvet and Raimon Pall{\`a}s",

note = "Funding Information: This project was supported by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) with a Dudley Stamp Memorial Award and by the University of Manchester SEED Fieldwork Support Fund. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 University of Washington.",

year = "2018",

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doi = "10.1017/qua.2018.12",

language = "English",

volume = "90",

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T1 - Rapid age assessment of glacial landforms in the Pyrenees using Schmidt hammer exposure dating (SHED)

AU - Tomkins, Matt D.

AU - Dortch, Jason M.

AU - Hughes, Philip D.

AU - Huck, Jonny J.

AU - Stimson, Andrew G.

AU - Delmas, Magali

AU - Calvet, Marc

AU - Pallàs, Raimon

N1 - Funding Information: This project was supported by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) with a Dudley Stamp Memorial Award and by the University of Manchester SEED Fieldwork Support Fund. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 University of Washington.

PY - 2018/7/1

Y1 - 2018/7/1

N2 - Schmidt hammer (SH) sampling of 54 10Be-dated granite surfaces from the Pyrenees reveals a clear relationship between exposure and weathering through time (n=52, R 2=0.96, P<0.01) and permits the use of the SH as a numerical dating tool. To test this 10Be-SH calibration curve, 100 surfaces were sampled from five ice-front positions in the Têt catchment, eastern Pyrenees, with results verified against independent 10Be and 14C ages. Gaussian modelling differentiates Holocene (9.4±0.6 ka), Younger Dryas (12.6±0.9 ka), Oldest Dryas (16.1±0.5 ka), last glacial maximum (LGM; 24.8±0.9 ka) and Würmian maximum ice extent stages (MIE; 40.9±1.1 ka). These data confirm comparable glacier lengths during the LGM and MIE (∼300 m difference), in contrast to evidence from the western Pyrenees (≥15 km), reflecting the relative influence of Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. Moreover, Pyrenean glaciers advanced significantly during the LGM, with a local maximum at ∼25 ka, driven by growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, southward advection of the polar front, and a solar radiation minimum in the Northern Hemisphere. This calibration curve is available online (http://shed.earth) to enable wider application of this method throughout the Pyrenees.

AB - Schmidt hammer (SH) sampling of 54 10Be-dated granite surfaces from the Pyrenees reveals a clear relationship between exposure and weathering through time (n=52, R 2=0.96, P<0.01) and permits the use of the SH as a numerical dating tool. To test this 10Be-SH calibration curve, 100 surfaces were sampled from five ice-front positions in the Têt catchment, eastern Pyrenees, with results verified against independent 10Be and 14C ages. Gaussian modelling differentiates Holocene (9.4±0.6 ka), Younger Dryas (12.6±0.9 ka), Oldest Dryas (16.1±0.5 ka), last glacial maximum (LGM; 24.8±0.9 ka) and Würmian maximum ice extent stages (MIE; 40.9±1.1 ka). These data confirm comparable glacier lengths during the LGM and MIE (∼300 m difference), in contrast to evidence from the western Pyrenees (≥15 km), reflecting the relative influence of Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. Moreover, Pyrenean glaciers advanced significantly during the LGM, with a local maximum at ∼25 ka, driven by growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, southward advection of the polar front, and a solar radiation minimum in the Northern Hemisphere. This calibration curve is available online (http://shed.earth) to enable wider application of this method throughout the Pyrenees.

KW - Geomorphology

KW - Glacier chronology

KW - Last glacial maximum

KW - Pyrenees

KW - Schmidt hammer exposure dating

KW - Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating

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JO - Quaternary Research (United States)

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Rapid age assessment of glacial landforms in the Pyrenees using Schmidt hammer exposure dating (SHED)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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