Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

LITTLE ICE AGE CHRONOLOGY FOR CLASSEN AND GODLEY GLACIERS, MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK, NEW ZEALAND

Schoenenberger, Katherine R.

Abstract Details

2001, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Geology.
As part of ongoing research investigating whether or not glacial systems in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have responded synchronously to climate change, a Little Ice Age (LIA) glacial chronology was established for the Classen and Godley Glaciers, Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand. Additionally, a population-based method of lichenometry was developed and relative retreat pattern established for the Classen and Godley Foreplains, which was then verified against historical records from the Mount Cook National Park area to test the effectiveness of the method. Radiocarbon dates indicate initiation of the most recent LIA advance no later than ~1790 AD. Maximum extent occurred by ~1862 AD. Ages of ice margin position at and subsequent to the recent LIA maximum position were determined from historical records. Retreat patterns suggest three phases of retreat. Phase one, the slowest phase, lasted from the 1860's to the 1890's. Total marginal retreat for both glaciers was ~100 m. Phase two, with slightly higher retreat rates, lasted until the 1950's, during which the Godley separated from two of its tributaries, the Grey and Maud. Total marginal retreat by the end of the second phase was ~1 km for the Classen, ~3 km for the Grey and Maud, and ~5 km for the Godley. Phase three, with the highest retreat rates, began with the formation of a pro-glacial lake at each of the three ice margins, included the separation of the Grey and Maud in 1990, and continues today. Total marginal retreat has been ~3.5 km for the Classen, ~4 km for the Grey and Maud, and ~7.0 for the Godley. Preliminary comparison of Northern and Southern Hemisphere LIA chronologies suggests that Northern Alaska and Scandinavian LIA maximums correspond to the initiation of the recent New Zealand LIA advance. The New Zealand maximum ice extent in 1862 matches LIA maximums from Iceland, Switzerland, Southern Alaska, and British Columbia. During the retreat phase no evidence of major readvance is observed in New Zealand, but is observed in many Northern Hemisphere retreat patterns during the 1930-40's.
Thomas Lowell (Advisor)
135 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Schoenenberger, K. R. (2001). LITTLE ICE AGE CHRONOLOGY FOR CLASSEN AND GODLEY GLACIERS, MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK, NEW ZEALAND [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin990634749

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schoenenberger, Katherine. LITTLE ICE AGE CHRONOLOGY FOR CLASSEN AND GODLEY GLACIERS, MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK, NEW ZEALAND. 2001. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin990634749.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schoenenberger, Katherine. "LITTLE ICE AGE CHRONOLOGY FOR CLASSEN AND GODLEY GLACIERS, MOUNT COOK NATIONAL PARK, NEW ZEALAND." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2001. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin990634749

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)