Glacial fluctuations around the Karola Pass, eastern Lhagoi Kangri Range, since the Last Glacial Maximum

Abstract

Mountain glaciers are sensitive to climate change, especially in climatic transition zones. We investigated Late Quaternary glacial history in two valleys around the Karola Pass of the eastern Lhagoi Kangri Range, central Himalaya, using cosmogenic 10Be surface exposure dating. Four glacial events were dated to 0.36 ± 0.09 to 0.13 ± 0.02 ka (LIA = Little Ice Age), 2.5 ± 0.2 ka (Neoglacial), 9.7 ± 0.4 to 8.2 ± 0.4 ka (Early Holocene) and 23.1 ± 0.9 to 16.3 ± 0.7 ka (LGM-LG, LGM = Last Glacial Maximum; LG = Lateglacial). The extent of glacier coverage has reduced successively since the LGM-LG, when ice coverage was about 2.69 times larger than at present (∼2010 CE). Equilibrium line altitude (ELA) values dropped 360, 265, 195 and 120 m during the LGM-LG, Early Holocene, Neoglacial and LIA, respectively, compared to the present value. These glacial events were broadly synchronous with other areas in the central Himalaya. It is likely that climate cooling was the major driver of glacial fluctuations during the LGM-LG. Abrupt and short-lived cooling phases, as well as increased Indian monsoonal precipitation, resulted in glacial expansions or standstills during the Early Holocene. In addition, cold and wet climatic conditions were attributed to the Neoglacial and LIA glacial events in this area.