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P6 - Glacial Chronology

PI: Heinz Veit | Naki Akçar

PhD-Student: Alexander Groos

Overview

The glacial history will be assessed by moraine mapping and dating of moraines by means of organic samples from turf basins (youngest stages) and 36 Chlor cosmogenic nuclides (for older big boulder moraines and boulder streams. The determination of extension and age of moraines is not only important for the reconstruction of the paleo circulation patterns, but is pivotal to distinguish between settlements/rockshelters of warm/wet climates of Interglacials/the Holocene or those of cold/dry climates like the LGM, when glacial meltwater streams are supposed to be a crucial resource for wildlife and hunters.

Achievements

1. Reconstruction of the valley and plateau glaciation extent

2. Established glacial chronology provides evidence for glaciation

3. Measured annual soil temperatures on the Sanetti Plateau and assumed conditions
   for the formation of permafrost features

4. Mapping and analysing past periglacial features

Photo: FOR 2358
Photo: FOR 2358

 

Figure 1 & 2: Boulder Streams; Taking samples of boulders at the Sanetti Plateau, Ethiopia

Publications

Groos AR, Akçar N, Vockenhuber C & Veit H (2018) Glacial chronology of the Bale Mountains in southern Ethiopia. Geophysical Research Abstracts 20, 1-1.

Ossendorf G, Groos AR, Bromm T, Tekelemariam MG, Glaser B, Lesur J, Schmidt J, Akçar N, Bekele T, Beldados A, Demissew S, Kahsay TH, Nash BP, Nauss T, Negash A, Nemomissa S, Veit H, Vogelsang R, Woldu Z, Zech W, Opgenoorth L & Miehe G (2019) Middle Stone Age foragers resided in high elevations of the glaciated Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, Science 365 (2019), 583-587.

Cooperation Partners