Late Quaternary glacial history of the Ulugh Muztagh, central Kunlun Mountains

Abstract

Only a few studies of Quaternary glaciation have been conducted in the central Kunlun Mountains, hindering a full understanding of Late Pleistocene and Holocene climatic changes on the Tibetan Plateau. This study presents 30 new 10Be surface exposure ages from five moraine crests, two moraine platforms and two glaciofluvial terraces on the northwestern slopes of the Ulugh Muztagh in the central Kunlun Mountains. The moraine ages indicate that an old glacial advance occurred no later than ∼87.10 ka, an extensive glacial advance at ∼35.61 ka and Holocene advances at ∼7.61 ka, ∼1.65 ka, ∼0.69 ka, and ∼ 0.36 ka. Two glaciofluvial terraces were tentatively determined to have been deposited at ∼24.87 ka and ∼ 17.35 ka, possibly implying the occurrence of limited global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Heinrich Stadial 1 glacial advances. After combining these findings with geomorphic evidence, it was inferred that glacial coverage was more extensive during MIS 3 than the global LGM, indicating that the timing of the LGM in the Ulugh Muztagh was asynchronous with that of the monsoon-dominated Tibetan Plateau. Reference to other palaeoclimatic archives suggested that glacial advances since MIS 3 were most likely driven by a combination of cool to cold temperatures and a relatively humid climate. The limited global LGM advance was attributed to increased aridity.