Rock glaciers in the central Cantabrian Mountains: palaeoenvironmental indicators
Rock glaciers are considered reliable indicators of permafrost occurrence, developed in environments with average temperatures below -2ºC. Relict rock glaciers and protalus lobes are well preserved landforms which permit us to deduce the environment in which they were active. This article analyzes t...
| Published in: | Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Published: |
Universidad de La Rioja
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://publicaciones.unirioja.es/ojs/index.php/cig/article/view/1259 https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.1259 |
| Summary: | Rock glaciers are considered reliable indicators of permafrost occurrence, developed in environments with average temperatures below -2ºC. Relict rock glaciers and protalus lobes are well preserved landforms which permit us to deduce the environment in which they were active. This article analyzes the distribution and characteristics of 32 rock glaciers and 9 protalus lobes in the central part of Cordillera Cantábrica. Based on the shape, orientation, altitude and morphostratigraphy of rock glaciers we have established 5 different phases of rock glacier formation. Finally a chronological hypothesis is purposed, and a palaeoclimatic inference is suggested for each phase. Los glaciares rocosos son considerados geoindicadores fiables de la existencia de permafrost, asociado a unas temperatura media anual por debajo de -2ºC. Los glaciares rocosos y lóbulos protalud relictos son formas bien conservadas que nos permiten inferir el ambiente en que fueron activos. El presente artículo analiza la distribución y características de los 32 glaciares rocosos y 9 lóbulos protalud del área central de la Cordillera Cantábrica. A partir de la forma, orientación, altitud y situación morfoestratigráfica de los glaciares rocosos se establecen 5 fases morfogenéticas. Finalmente se propone una hipótesis cronológica y una aproximación paleoclimática para dichas fases. |
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