The chronology of the last glacial cycle in the Southern European mountains. A review.

Abstract

This paper reviews the available glacial chronology in the Southern European mountains based on different dating procedures. The results distinguish between glaciers that reach their maximum extent ca. 50,000 or even 80,000 years B.P., that is, much earlier than the global Last Glacial Maximum, and (ii) glaciers whose maximum advance coincides with the global Last Glacial Maximum (20,000 – 18,000 cal. years BP). In the former ones glaciolacustrine and morainic deposits were dated using radiocarbon, OSL and U-Th series techniques, whereas in the second ones cosmogenic exposure ages of surfaces and boulders were obtained. The authors conclude that an early maximum advance of the Southern European glaciers would be possible taking into account their high sensitivity to climate changes during the last glacial cycle. Nevertheless, the differences between the glaciers located in the Southern European mountains can not be only explained by the geographic location (latitude, exposure) and the changes in the General Atmospheric Circulation. Errors in the dating procedures or in the selection of the sampling points have to be evaluated as responsible for the remarkable differences between Mediterranean mountains.