GLACIER FLUCTUATIONS IN THE ALPS OVER THE LAST FOUR MILLENNIA - PART 3
59
Precisely dated glacier fluctuations in the Alps over the
last four millennia
Kurt Nicolussi', UlrichJörin2, Haus Felix Kaiser3,Gernot Patzelt' and Andrea Thurner'
lImtitute of Geogfaphy, Unwersip ofInnsbnuk, Innsbruck, Austria; ?Institute of Geological Sciences, Universip $Ben,
Ben, Sm'tzerland; WSL, Birmensdolf; Switzerland
Mountain glaciers are highly sensitive indicators for
climate variability on mid- to long-term timescales.
Thus the currently observable glacier retreat in the
European Alps is the most striking en+ronmental
evidence for current climatic change in this mountain
region.
To assess the current evolution and to analyse
the influence of different forcing factors under nondisturbed clirnatic conditions, knowledge of
Holocene glacier variability is necessary. For the
European Alps, contemporary documents, such as
written sources and pictures, can provide precisely
dated information on glacier fluctuations for the
Little Ice Age (LTA: e.g. Zumbuhl 1980, Nicolussi
1993). However, pre-16th century glacier variability
can only be investigated by other methodological
approaches. Tree-ring analyses on wood samples
fi-om glacier forefields can provide results with a temporal resolution and precision similar to historical
sources. However, this approach can only be used for
relatively large glaciers with specific topographic
situations.
Here we present a record of glacier fluctuations
in the Eastern Alps for the last 4,000 years. This
record is based on dendrochronologicalanalyses and
dating of subfossil wood found on glacier forefields
for the pre-LZA period. A recently established continuous multi-millennial tree-ring chronology covering
the last 7,130 years (Nicolussi et al. 2004) has been
used for the absolute dating of these wooden remains.
Radiocarbon dating was applied additionally.
Subfossil logs were mainly found on the glacier
forefield of the Gepatschferner (Austrian Alps); additional findiigs are fi-om the Gefrorene Wand Kees
(Austrian Alps), the Sulden Ferner (Italian Alps) and
the Tschierva Gletscher (Swiss Alps).
The Alpine glacier record of the last four d e n nia shows repeated and extended advances ii-om the
late 16th to the mid-19th century AD (LTA). However, some Alpine glaciers reached sirnilar extents as
in the LIA at the end of the preceding High Medieval
Glacier advance period (HMAP, approx. early .12th
to mid-14th century). A long glacier retreat period
lasting fi-om approx. AD 840 to the early 12th
century ended with the onset of the HMAP.
During the fmt millennium AD, ,glacier
advances are evident for about AD 335, the end
of the 6th and beginning of the 7th century,
respectively, and for the early 9th century, with a
culmination at about AD 835. During the first millennium BC, the first advance of the Gepatschferner
took place shortly afier 715 BC (Nicolussi and Patzelt
2001), and an additional advance at about 637 BC.
The extent of this glacier during these advances was
similar to that observed in the mid-20th century.
In the second millennium BC only a few observable glacier advances occurred. A hrst culmination of
the so-called 'Löbben advance period' (LAF') is dated
at about 1625 BC, and a second LAP-advance took
place at about 1550 BC (Nicolussi and Patzelt 2001).
Additionally, the Gepatschferner advanced shortly
afier 1200 BC.
However, the Alpine glacier history of the last
4000 years can be sub-divided into two periods. The
last millennium was nearly covered by two (HMAP
and LIA) long-lasting glacier advance periods. In
contrast, advances of Alpine glaciers were relatively
rare during the preceding three d e n n i a and took
place after long-lasting glacier retreat phases with
relatively small glacier extent (e.g. Roman climatic
optirnum). Such glacier retreat periods are evidenced
by multi-centennial long tree-ring series. The trees
grew at positions which were ice-covered at least in
the early or mid-20th century AD.
There is so far no clear evidence for a glacier
advance period of U - l i k e extent and duration in the
Alps during the early or middle Holocene. In contrast, results fi-om Alpine glacier forefields (Nicolussi
and Patzelt 2000, Hormes et al. 2001) suggest the
dominance of long-lasting glacier retreat periods,
during which the glaciers did not exceed their current
length over centuries.
References
Hormes A, Müiler BU and Schlüchter C. The Alps with little ice:
evidence for eight Holocene phases of reduced glacier extent in
the Central Swiss Als. The Holocene 2001; 11,255-265
Nicolussi K. Bilddokurnente zur Geschichte des Vemagtferners
im 17Jahrhundert. - ZeitscM für Gletscherkunde und
Glazialgeologie 1993;26:97-119
Nicolussi K and Patzelt G. Diovery of Earlv Holocene wood and
peat on the forefield of the Pastene Glacier, Eastern Xlps,
Austria. The Holocene 2000; 10: 191-1 99
Nicolussi K and Patzelt G. Untersuchungen zur holozänen
Gletscherentwicklung von Pastene und Gepatschferner
60
GLOBAL CHANGE iN MOUNTAINS
(Ostalpen). Zeitschrii für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie
2OO1;36: 1-87
Nicolussi K, Lumassegger G, Patzelt G, P i d u r P and Schießliig P.
Aufbau einer holozänen Hochlagen-Jahmng-Chronologie für
die zentraien Ostalpen: Möglichkeiten und erste Ergebnisse.
Innsbrucker Geographische Gesellschaft / Innsbrucker
Jahresbericht 2001/2002,2004; 16: 114-1 36
Zumbtihl HJ. Die Schwankungen der Grindelwaldgletscher in
den historischen Bild- und Schriftquelien des 12. bis 19.
Jahrhunderts. BiiWauser: Basel; 1980
Global Change in
Mountain Regions
Edited by
Martin F. Price
SAPIENS
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