Spatial distribution and morphometry of permafrost-related landforms in the Central Pyrenees and associated paleoclimatic implications

Fernandes, Marcelo; Palma, Pedro; Lopes, Luís Filipe; Fernández, Jesús Ruíz; Pereira, Paulo; Oliva, Marc

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2017.08.071

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Rock glaciers are probably the best indicators of permafrost conditions in mid‐ and low‐latitude mountain regions . In relict features, the analysis of their morphometric dimensions can reveal patterns of past activity . In this Special Issue, González‐Gutiérrez et al .…”

Section: Rock Glaciersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, between 2000 and 2017, 230 scientific publications have been counted within the Iberian network of the IPA . These publications involved 198 researchers belonging to 68 different institutions (29 Spanish, five Portuguese and 34 from other countries), allowing a considerable advance in the knowledge of the cryosphere of the Iberian Peninsula, but also of the polar regions (where Iberian researchers are making significant contributions), and in many other mountain regions …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Permafrost and periglacial processes in mid‐ and low‐latitude mountain regions

Fernández

Oliva

Hughes

2019

Permafrost & Periglacial

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The Special Issue that justifies this Editorial has been designed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first Spanish scientific meeting of the International Permafrost Association organized in 1994 in Madrid. This Special Issue, entitled “Permafrost and periglacial processes in mid‐ and low‐latitude mountains regions,” includes nine papers from various mountain regions around the world, such as the Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Galician and Cantabrian Mountains in the Iberian Peninsula, Atacama and Central Andes in South America, Absaroka ranges in North America, and Seckauer Tauern Range in the European Alps. These articles provide new methodologies and approaches focusing on a wide range of periglacial phenomena, such as past cryogenic environments, active periglacial processes, permafrost and ground thermal regime, as well as rock glaciers. As a result of this Special Issue, we have detected several knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the future by the scientific community studying permafrost and periglacial processes in mid‐ and low‐latitude mountains regions, namely: (a) improving the geochronology of past periglacial environments and associated paleoclimatic implications; (b) the study of periglacial features existing in low‐altitude mountain environments and/or in the lowlands; (c) improve our current knowledge of active periglacial processes, permafrost distribution and ground thermal regime in mid‐altitude mountains; (d) the monitoring of periglacial mass wasting processes and mechanisms of sediment transfer; (e) the interaction between glaciers and periglacial processes; and (f) geoecological dynamics in response to climate scenarios anticipating significant changes of temperature and moisture in periglacial regions.

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Section: Rock Glaciersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Permafrost and periglacial processes in mid‐ and low‐latitude mountain regions

Fernández

Oliva

Hughes

2019

Permafrost & Periglacial

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“…They are rare features and have been only identified in Frondiellas, Alba, and La Paúl cirques, inside LIA moraines at 2,800, 2,920, and 3,000 m, respectively, formed during the deglaciation that started by 1850 AD. In contrast to frost mounds, protalus lobes are common landforms in nonglaciated environments during the LIA in the Pyrenees, suggesting past permafrost conditions (Fernandes et al, ; González‐García et al, ; González‐García, Serrano, & González‐Trueba, ; Serrano, Agudo, Delaloye, & González‐Trueba, ; Serrano, Martínez de Pisón, & Agudo, ; Serrano, Morales, González‐Trueba, & Martín‐Moreno, ).…”

Section: Paraglacial Systems In Iberian Rangesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐little ice age paraglacial processes and landforms in the high Iberian mountains: A review

et al. 2018

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Three Iberian mountain ranges encompassed glaciers during the Little Ice Age (LIA):the Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains, and Sierra Nevada. The gradual warming trend initiated during the second half of the 19th century promoted the progressive shrinking of these glaciers, which completely melted during the first half of the 20th century in the Cantabrian mountains and Sierra Nevada and reduced by 80% of their LIA extent in the Pyrenees. In these formerly glaciated environments, the transition between glacial and periglacial conditions results in an accelerated paraglacial readjustment, with very active geomorphic processes. Cirque walls generate a large amount of sediments through rock-falls and slides. LIA moraines, devoid of vegetation and composed of highly unstable sediments, are being intensely mobilized by slope processes. Inside the moraines, the shrinking of LIA glaciers favoured the development of buried ice patches, with permafrost-related landforms, small periglacial features generated by solifluction, and cryoturbation processes and remarkable hydrological changes. Present-day morphodynamics is mostly related to seasonal frost, though patches of permafrost have formed in contact with the buried ice, undergoing a process of degradation because it is not balanced with present-day climate. This is reflected in the occurrence of multiple collapses and subsidence of the debris cover where the frozen bodies sit. Next to the small glaciated environments in the highest Pyrenean massifs, there is a permafrost belt undergoing also rapid geomorphic changes. Based on the observed processes, we discuss spatio-temporal patterns of paraglacial readjustment in Iberian mountains and compare it with other midlatitude mountain environments.

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“…[7][8][9][10] From the first studies of rock glaciers at the end of 19th century, 11 they have been studied from different perspectives such as location, morphology, typology, composition, structure, dynamics, genesis, age and climatic conditions. 1,7,9,12 In the Iberian Peninsula, rock glaciers have been identified since the 1980s in the main ranges, such as the Pyrenees, [13][14][15][16][17][18] Sierra Nevada [19][20][21] and the Iberian System. 22,23 In the Cantabrian Mountains they have been identified since the end of the 1980s [24][25][26] and prpvide are some of the best examples of relict rock glaciers in the Iberian Peninsula.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface macro‐fabric analysis of relict rock glaciers in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain)

Gutiérrez

González

Gómez-Villar

et al. 2019

Permafrost & Periglacial

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Relict rock glaciers are widespread in the Cantabrian Mountains, with more than 250 lobate, tongued‐shaped and complex landforms identified. Located mostly within glacial cirques, facing north and northeast, these landforms are indicative of the distribution of ancient permafrost. Macro‐fabric analysis allows us to reconstruct the past dynamics of these landforms. Surface macro‐fabric analysis of 34 rock glaciers including both ridge and furrows was performed. The orientation and dip of 50 clasts was determined in each case. All data were plotted in equal‐area stereograms and the eigenvalue method was used for statistical analysis of the data. The data show weak fabric shapes, with the transitional and the girdle shapes being the most representative, with 67.6% of the samples studied. The main fabric direction (eigenvalue S1) is found in 40–60% of the clasts, and only 11.7% present values ≥0.60. Clast concentration density in the stereograms gives concentrations <10% in more than 73.5% of the samples. Ridge samples have a more intense fabric than those of the furrows. The tongue‐shaped rock glaciers show more diverse values than those with lobate and complex forms.

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Spatial distribution and morphometry of permafrost-related landforms in the Central Pyrenees and associated paleoclimatic implications

Cited by 23 publications

References 53 publications

Permafrost and periglacial processes in mid‐ and low‐latitude mountain regions

Permafrost and periglacial processes in mid‐ and low‐latitude mountain regions

Post‐little ice age paraglacial processes and landforms in the high Iberian mountains: A review

Surface macro‐fabric analysis of relict rock glaciers in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain)

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