Cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al Chronology of the Last Glaciation of the Palaeo‐Daocheng Ice Cap, Southeastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

AbstractThe glacial landforms of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) provide a unique opportunity to research hemispheric and global environmental changes. In this study, we focus on the glacial history of the palaeo‐Daocheng Ice Cap (p‐DIC) in the southeastern QTP during the last glacial cycle. Based on field investigations, morphostratigraphy, and surface exposure dating of roche moutonnée, polished surface and moraine debris through the terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCN) 10Be and 26A1. We identify glacial deposits of the last deglaciation, with minimum ages of 14.9±1.3–18.7±1.7 ka, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) of 24.7±2.2 ka, and the early part of the last glacial period (marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 3) of 37.1±3.4–45.2±3.9 ka. Our results show that in this region, the extent of the glacial advance during MIS 3 was larger than that during the traditional LGM (MIS 2). These ages are consistent with prior chronologies, and the 10Be age is consistent with the 26Al age for the same sample. Thus, these data provide reliable constraints on climate change in the QTP, during the last glaciation.