Absence of Large-Scale Ice Masses in Central Northeast Siberia During the Late Pleistocene

Jesper Nørgaard; Martin Margold; John D. Jansen; Redzhep Kurbanov; Izabela Szuman; Jane Lund Andersen; Jesper Olsen; Mads Faurschou Knudsen

doi:10.1029/2023GL103594

Absence of Large-Scale Ice Masses in Central Northeast Siberia During the Late Pleistocene

Jesper Nørgaard^*, Martin Margold, John D. Jansen, Redzhep Kurbanov, Izabela Szuman, Jane Lund Andersen, Jesper Olsen, Mads Faurschou Knudsen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Ongoing speculation regarding the existence of large Late Pleistocene ice masses in Northeast Eurasia reflects the dearth of age constraints on glaciations across this vast region. Here, we report the first dates from the central part of Northeast Siberia, consisting of 22 cosmogenic ¹⁰Be exposure ages from boulders deriving from a sequence of three moraines in the Chersky Range. The dated moraine sequence indicates progressive contraction of maximum glacier extent from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Last Glacial Maximum, while the remotely-sensed mapping indicates an older, more expansive glaciation in the region yet undated. Our results show that Late Pleistocene glaciations were limited to the highlands, and Northeast Siberia did not host a large, coalescent ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum or Marine Isotope Stage 6.

Original language	English
Article number	e2023GL103594
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	50
Issue	10
ISSN	0094-8276
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103594
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2023

Keywords

boulder erratics
cosmogenic nuclides
exposure dating
glacial moraines
ice sheet
mountain glaciers

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10.1029/2023GL103594Licence: CC BY

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title = "Absence of Large-Scale Ice Masses in Central Northeast Siberia During the Late Pleistocene",

abstract = "Ongoing speculation regarding the existence of large Late Pleistocene ice masses in Northeast Eurasia reflects the dearth of age constraints on glaciations across this vast region. Here, we report the first dates from the central part of Northeast Siberia, consisting of 22 cosmogenic 10Be exposure ages from boulders deriving from a sequence of three moraines in the Chersky Range. The dated moraine sequence indicates progressive contraction of maximum glacier extent from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Last Glacial Maximum, while the remotely-sensed mapping indicates an older, more expansive glaciation in the region yet undated. Our results show that Late Pleistocene glaciations were limited to the highlands, and Northeast Siberia did not host a large, coalescent ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum or Marine Isotope Stage 6.",

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Absence of Large-Scale Ice Masses in Central Northeast Siberia During the Late Pleistocene. / Nørgaard, Jesper; Margold, Martin; Jansen, John D. et al.
In: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 50, No. 10, e2023GL103594, 28.05.2023.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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AU - Nørgaard, Jesper

AU - Margold, Martin

AU - Jansen, John D.

AU - Kurbanov, Redzhep

AU - Szuman, Izabela

AU - Andersen, Jane Lund

AU - Olsen, Jesper

AU - Faurschou Knudsen, Mads

PY - 2023/5/28

Y1 - 2023/5/28

N2 - Ongoing speculation regarding the existence of large Late Pleistocene ice masses in Northeast Eurasia reflects the dearth of age constraints on glaciations across this vast region. Here, we report the first dates from the central part of Northeast Siberia, consisting of 22 cosmogenic 10Be exposure ages from boulders deriving from a sequence of three moraines in the Chersky Range. The dated moraine sequence indicates progressive contraction of maximum glacier extent from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Last Glacial Maximum, while the remotely-sensed mapping indicates an older, more expansive glaciation in the region yet undated. Our results show that Late Pleistocene glaciations were limited to the highlands, and Northeast Siberia did not host a large, coalescent ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum or Marine Isotope Stage 6.

AB - Ongoing speculation regarding the existence of large Late Pleistocene ice masses in Northeast Eurasia reflects the dearth of age constraints on glaciations across this vast region. Here, we report the first dates from the central part of Northeast Siberia, consisting of 22 cosmogenic 10Be exposure ages from boulders deriving from a sequence of three moraines in the Chersky Range. The dated moraine sequence indicates progressive contraction of maximum glacier extent from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Last Glacial Maximum, while the remotely-sensed mapping indicates an older, more expansive glaciation in the region yet undated. Our results show that Late Pleistocene glaciations were limited to the highlands, and Northeast Siberia did not host a large, coalescent ice sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum or Marine Isotope Stage 6.

KW - boulder erratics

KW - cosmogenic nuclides

KW - exposure dating

KW - glacial moraines

KW - ice sheet

KW - mountain glaciers

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Absence of Large-Scale Ice Masses in Central Northeast Siberia During the Late Pleistocene

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Keywords

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