APPLICATION OF LICHENOMETRY AND TEPHROCHRONOLOGY IN THE DATING OF HOLOCENE GLACIAL DEPOSITS IN KAMCHATKA

Abstract

Holocene glacial deposits were dated using tephrochronoly and lichenometry in 17 cirques in the upper reaches of the Topolovaya, Olkhovaya, Vaktan Malkinsky, and Srednyaya Avacha Rivers in Kamchatka. All of the glaciers had two advance maxima in the Holocene: an Eoholocene maximum some 7600-7700 years ago and a Neoglacial maximum (following the climatic optimum). In the Mesoholocene, only one glacier was spreading between 5400-5500 and 6000 years ago, though this date is not certain enough. The earliest Neoholocene glacier advance took place approximately 3500-4300 years ago, its maximum falling within a period of 2100-2700 years ago. The subsequent glacier advances that took place 1900-2100, 1400-1800, 800-1100, 600-900, 150-450, and 50-110 years ago were of smaller magnitude.