Review of the timing and extent of glaciers during the last glacial cycle in the bordering mountains of Tibet and in East Asia

Abstract

New accelerator mass spectrometry 14C (AMS 14C), electron spin resonance (ESR) and thermoluminescence (TL) dates for glacial successions in Tibetan bordering mountains and in East Asia show that glacier extent during the early/middle (MIS3-4) parts of the last glacial cycle was larger than that of the late stage (MIS2) in last glacial cycle. Glaciation was not synchronous with the North Hemisphere ice sheet maxima and changes in oceanic circulation that predominately control global climate. There exist three seasonal precipitation patterns that control the accumulation and ablation on glaciers in the study areas. Areas dominated by Westerlies, including the East Asia coastal islands, experience glacier advance mainly because of increased winter precipitation. These glaciers expand during glacial stages. In contrast, in areas dominated by summer precipitation in the interior of mainland, except in the monsoonal high precipitation zone in southeast Tibet and the Hengduan Mountain range, tend not to develop large glaciers during major glacial stages.