Paleo-climate of the central European uplands during the last glacial maximum based on glacier mass-balance modeling

• Published in: Quaternary Research
• Main Authors: Heyman, Barbara M., Heyman, Jakob, Fickert, Thomas, Harbor, Jonathan M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
• Subjects: Fennoscandia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2012.09.005; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0033589412001159?httpAccept=text/xml; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0033589412001159?httpAccept=text/plain; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033589400002921

Abstract During the last glacial maximum (LGM), glaciers existed in scattered mountainous locations in central Europe between the major ice masses of Fennoscandia and the Alps. A positive degree-day glacier mass-balance model is used to constrain paleo-climate conditions associated with reconstructed LGM glacier extents of four central European upland regions: the Vosges Mountains, the Black Forest, the Bavarian Forest, and the Giant Mountains. With reduced precipitation (25–75%), reflecting a drier LGM climate, the modeling yields temperature depressions of 8–15°C. To reproduce past glaciers more severe cooling is required in the west than in the east, indicating a strong west–east temperature anomaly gradient.