High-frequency Holocene glacier fluctuations in the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen

Abstract

Abstract Holocene glacial chronostratigraphies in glaciated valleys spread throughout the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen, including the Himalaya, Tibet, Pamir, and Tian Shan, are developed using a landsystems approach, detailed geomorphic mapping, and new and published 10Be surface exposure dating. New studies in the Kulti valley of Lahul and the Parkachik valley of the Nun Kun massif of the Himalaya of northern India define three glacier advances at ∼14.7, 12.2, 0.5 ka, in addition to one historically dated late 19th Century advance in the Kulti valley, and one Late Holocene advance at ∼0.2 ka in the Parkachik valley. Three major climatic groups (subdivided into five climatic zones) are defined across the orogen using Cluster Analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify glaciated regions with comparable climatic characteristics to evaluate the timing, and extent of Holocene glacier advances across these regions. Our regional analyses across the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen suggest at least one Lateglacial (∼15.3–11.8 ka) and five Himalayan-Tibetan Holocene glacial stages (HTHS) at ∼11.5–9.5, ∼8.8–7.7, ∼7.0–3.2, ∼2.3–1.0, and