An advance of Soler Glacier, North Patagonian Icefield, at c. AD 1222–1342

Abstract

Soler Glacier is a temperate outlet glacier on the eastern side of the North Patagonian Icefield in Chile. The glacier is currently receding from its ‘Little Ice Age’ maximum position, attained sometime between ad 1600 and 1900. Across the snout and forefield of the glacier is an arcuate belt of well-sorted granule gravel and coarse sand containing tree remains. These sediments are interpreted as reworked glaciolacustrine material, elevated to the glacier surface by thrusting and folding. Radiocarbon dating of samples of tree remains in these reworked glaciolacustrine sediments demonstrates that the glacier overrode this lake bed sometime between ad 904 and ad 1334. In situ tree remains plastered onto a large boulder in front of the glacier constrain this advance to the period between ad 1222 and ad 1342. This advance precedes by several hundred years the maximum ‘Little Ice Age’ extent of other North Patagonian Icefield outlet glaciers, suggesting either an early age for the onset of ‘Little Ice Age’ conditions or a previously unrecognized period of glacier advance. Prior to the advance at c. ad 1222 to ad 1342, Soler Glacier was more recessed than at present, confirming the dynamic response of Patagonian glaciers to Holocene climatic fluctuations.