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Kellerer-Pirklbauer, A., Wangensteen, B., Farbrot, H. and Etzelmü ller, B. 2007. Relative surface age-dating of rock glacier systems near Hólar in Hjaltadalur, northern Iceland.ABSTRACT: Schmidt-hammer rebound values and photogrammetric measurements of surface displacement were used to date two active polymorphic (high-altitude) and two relict monomorphic (low-altitude) rock glaciers near Hó lar in Hjaltadalur, Trö llaskagi peninsula, northern Iceland (658 40 0 N, 198 00 0 W). Both low-altitude rock glaciers are of Late Weichselian or Preboreal origin (ca. 10.3-9.2 k yr BP) with minor later reshaping until the early Neoglacial period ('Vatnsdalur I'; ca. 5.2 k yr BP). Both high-altitude rock glaciers consist of an upper lobe overriding a lower lobe corresponding to initiation during different cool phases. The initiation of the lower lobes can possibly be attributed to the 'GH-8.2 event' (8.6-8.0 k cal. yr BP). They reached their terminal position at the end of the 'Vatnsdalur I' stage. The upper lobes of the high-altitude rock glaciers were initiated sometimes between the 'Vatnsdalur I' but substantially before the 'Vatnsdalur II' (ca. 3.0-3.2 k yr BP) stages and underwent modification during each following Holocene glacier expansion episode, culminating the last time in the Little Ice Age. Thus, it is suggested that similar looking rock glaciers occurring elsewhere in the Trö llaskagi peninsula may have a similar complex history. Therefore, they may not be seen as rather simple landforms developed during the Little Ice Age.

Abstract. The investigation and modelling of permafrost distribution, particularly in areas of discontinuous permafrost, is challenging due to spatial heterogeneity, remoteness of measurement sites and data scarcity. We have designed a strategy for standardizing different local data sets containing evidence of the presence or absence of permafrost into an inventory for the entire European Alps. With this brief communication, we present the structure and contents of this inventory. This collection of permafrost evidence not only highlights existing data and allows new analyses based on larger data sets, but also provides complementary information for an improved interpretation of monitoring results.