Age of growth of two pingos, Sarqaq Dalen, West Central Greenland

The aim of this note is to identify the beginnings of growth of two pingos located in Sarqaq Dalen, west‐central Greenland. One is located at the toe of an alluvial fan, and seems to be active; the other is on a river bed, and already collapsed. Marine sand covers the pingos and indicates that the H...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
Main Author: Kenji Yoshikawa
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430020308
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Summary:The aim of this note is to identify the beginnings of growth of two pingos located in Sarqaq Dalen, west‐central Greenland. One is located at the toe of an alluvial fan, and seems to be active; the other is on a river bed, and already collapsed. Marine sand covers the pingos and indicates that the Holocene transgression predates their growth. The pingos are located approximately 2 km from the present coastline. Pollen analysis of the overlying sediments of the two pingos leads to the following conclusions: (1) although the study area had already emerged from the sea at Post Fjord stage (7800 years BP), it was submerged again sometime between 7000‐5000 years BP; (2) one pingo started its growth approximately 4500 years BP; (3) the other pingo started its growth approximately 6000‐5500 years BP. Cette étude a pour but de déterminer le début de la croissance de deux pingos (système ouvert) situés dans la vallée de Sarqaq Dalen, au centre ouest du Groenland. Le plus jeune est toujours en train de grandir au pied d'un céne alluvial. Le plus vieux, situé dans le lit de la rivière, est, par contre en cours de fusion. La croissance de ces pingos a commencé après le retrait de la mer dont le rivage se trouve maintenant à environ 2 km. L'analyse palynologique de la tourbe superficielle du Corn pingo nous permet d'arriver aux conclusions suivantes: (1) cette région avait déjà émergé de la mer à l'étape du post‐Fjord (il a y a 7800 BP); elle a été submergée de nouveau pendant une période mal pr°Cisée entre 7000 et 5000 ans BP; (2) le pingo le plus r°Cent a commencé à se soulever il y a environ 4500 ans BP; (3) le pingo, le plus ancien a commencé sa croissance il y a 6000‐5500 ans BP.