BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Reconstructing spatial &amp\; temporal patterns of past glaciation
  of the Tibetan Plateau\, Tian Shan\, &amp\; Altai Mountains using geomorp
 hic mapping &amp\; cosmogenic radionuclide dating - Prof. Jon Harbor\, Pur
 due University\, Indiana\, USA
DTSTART:20140220T163000Z
DTEND:20140220T180000Z
UID:TALK50961@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Harriet Allen
DESCRIPTION:Understanding the behaviour of mountain glaciers and ice caps\
 , the evolution of mountain landscapes\, and testing global climate models
  all require well-constrained information on past spatial and temporal pat
 terns of glacier change. Particularly important are transitional regions t
 hat have high spatial and temporal variation in glacier activity and that 
 can provide a sensitive record of past climate change. Central Asia is an 
 extreme continental location with glaciers that have responded sensitively
  to variations in major regional climate systems. As an international team
  project\, scientists from Europe\, Asia and North America are reconstruct
 ing glacial histories of several areas of the Tibetan Plateau as well as a
 long the Tian Shan\, Altai and Kunlun Mountains.  Building on previous wor
 k\, we are using remote-sensing-based geomorphological mapping augmented w
 ith field observations to map out glacial landforms and the maximum distri
 butions of erratics.  We then use cosmogenic nuclide 10Be and 26Al dating\
 , optically stimulated luminescence\, and electron spin resonance dating o
 f moraines and other landforms to compare dating techniques and to constra
 in the ages of former maximum extents of glaciers and ice caps. Comparing 
 consistently dated glacial histories across central Asia will allow us to 
 examine potential shifts in the dominance patterns of climate systems over
  time in the region.  Results to date show significant variations in the t
 iming and extent of glaciation\, including areas in the southeast Tibetan 
 Plateau and Tian Shan with extensive valley and small polythermal ice cap 
 glaciation during the global last glacial maximum in contrast to areas in 
 the central Tibetan plateau that had very limited valley glacier expansion
  during the global last glacial maximum.  Initial numerical modelling fit 
 to mapped and dated paleoglacial extents suggests that limited cooling is 
 sufficient to produce observed past expansions of glaciers across the Tibe
 tan Plateau.
LOCATION:Small Lecture Theatre\, Department of Geography\, Downing Site
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR