Search

Debris-covered glaciers constitute a large part of the world's cryosphere. However, little is known about their long-term response to multi-millennial climate variability, in particular in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we provide first insights into the response of a debris-covered glacier to multi-millennial climate variability in the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Archipelago, which can be compared to that of recently investigated debris-free glaciers. We focus on the Gentil Glacier and present 13 new 36Cl cosmic-ray exposure ages from moraine boulders. The Gentil Glacier experienced at least two glacial advances: the first one during the Late Glacial (19.0–11.6 ka) at ~14.3 ka and the second one during the Late Holocene at ~2.6 ka. Both debris-covered and debris-free glaciers advanced broadly synchronously during the Late Glacial, most probably during the Antarctic Cold Reversal event (14.5–12.9 ka). This suggests that both glacier types at Kerguelen were sensitive to abrupt temperature changes recorded in Antarctic ice cores, associated with increased moisture. However, during the Late Holocene, the advance at ~2.6 ka was not observed in other glaciers and seems to be an original feature of the debris-covered Gentil Glacier, related to either distinct dynamics or to distinct sensitivity to precipitation changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmogenic nuclide dating of glacial landforms on the Kerguelen Archipelago (49°S, 69°E) gives the opportunity to study multi-millennial glacier fluctuations within the sub-Antarctic sector of the Indian Ocean. We here dated such geomorphic features to provide time constraints over the last 17,000 years using in situ -produced 36Cl in three glacial valleys: Val Travers valley, Ampere Glacier valley and Arago Glacier valley. For the first time, a combination of in situ- produced 36Cl and 10Be dating and 26Al/10Be ratios analysis was performed in the quartz-bearing syenite boulders of the Arago Glacier site. In addition, a Bayesian approach was computed to obtain a better constraint on moraine dating. Glacial advances occurred during the Late Glacial at 16.0 ± 1.9 ka and at 12.9 ± 1.7 ka in Val Travers, and at 13.6 ± 1.8 ka in Arago Glacier valley, probably linked to the Heinrich Stadial 1 and/or Antarctic Cold Reversal events, respectively. This suggests that all glaciers at this latitude were broadly sensitive to the large-scale climatic signal of the Antarctic Cold Reversal. So far, no Early nor Mid-Holocene moraines have been found in the glacial valleys on Kerguelen, indicating that the glaciers had probably receded significantly during these periods. This is in agreement with previously determined 14C ages from peat bogs, which suggest extensive deglaciation during several millennia of the Holocene period. Samples from glacially-polished bedrock surfaces (ranging from ∼4.4 ka to ∼14 ka) at Ampere Glacier site also suggest that this valley was ice free for several millennia during the Holocene. Finally, glaciers seem to have re-advanced only during the Late Holocene, especially within the last millennium, at ∼1 ka, ∼ 430 yr and ∼300 yr. A comparison of this new dataset with the available 10Be ages from other southern mid-latitude regions during the Holocene allows the identification of three different glacier evolution patterns. We suspect that variations of Kerguelen glaciers, which are located in the Southern Indian Ocean, were controlled by the combined effects of sea surface temperature related to the variations of the Antarctic Polar Front and fluctuations of precipitation related to long-term variations of the Southern Annular Mode. • First 36Cl, 10Be and 26Al dating in quartz-bearing syenites. • Evidence of Heinrich Stadial 1 and Antarctic Cold Reversal advances is provided. • Holocene maximal glacier extent occurred during the Late Holocene. • Non-homogeneous glacier evolution during the Holocene in sub-Antarctic region. • Kerguelen Holocene glaciers' behaviour differs from other sub-Antarctic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]