The pleistocene glaciation in the Karakoram-mountains: Reconstruction of past glacier extensions and ice thicknesses

Abstract

Geomorphological and Quaternarygeological field- and laboratory data (Fig.1) are introduced and interpreted with regard to the maximum Ice Age (LGM) glaciation of the Central-and South Karakoram in the Braldu-, Basna-, Shigar-and Indus valley system as well as on the Deosai plateau between the Skardu Basin and the Astor valley (Fig.2). These data result from two research expeditions in the years 1997 and 2000. They show that between c. 60 and 20 Ka the Central Karakorum and its south slope were covered by a continuous c. 125,000 km2 sized ice stream network. This ice stream network flowed together to a joint parent glacier, the Indus glacier. The tongue end of the Indus glacier reached down to 850 ∼ 800 m a.s.l. In its centre the surface of this Indus ice stream network reached a height of a good 6000 m. Its most important ice thicknesses amounted to c. 2400 ∼ 2900 m.