Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T17:04:29.327Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Carbon-14 Dates from the Snowy Mountains area, Southeastern Australia, and their Interpretation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

A.B. Costin*
Affiliation:
Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia

Abstract

Carbon-14 dates for fossil wood, peats, and organic soils from periglacial and glucial sites between 1100 and 2100 m in the Snowy Mountains area, southeastern Australia, are interpreted in relation to the site characteristics and the present climate. The dates indicate a widespread cold period commencing about 34,000-31,000 years ago, the effects of which apparently continued until about 15,000 and locally until about 9000 years ago; a subsequent warmer period; and a colder phase about 3000-1500 years ago. Mean annual temperatures during the first cold period are estimated to have been at least 8–10°C lower than at present, and at least 3°C lower during the cold phase of 3000-1500 years ago.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Academic Press, Inc.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bray, J.R. 1971 Vegetational distribution, tree growth and crop success in relation to recent climatic change Cragg, J.B. Advances in Ecological Research Vol. 7 Academic Press New York 171 233 Google Scholar
Browne, W.R. Vallance, T.G. 1957 Notes on some evidence of glaciation in the Kosciusko Region Proceedings Linnean Society New South Wales 82 125 144 Google Scholar
Caine, N. Jennings, J.N. 1968 Some blockstreams of the Toolong Range, Kosciusko State Park, New South Wales Journal and Proceedings Royal Society New South Wales 101 93 103 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costin, A.B. 1954 A Study of the Ecosystems of the Monaro Region of New South Wales Government Printer Sydney Google Scholar
Costin, A.B. Wimbush, D.J. Kerr, D. Gay, L.W. 1959 Studies in catchment hydrology in the Australian Alps. I. Trends in soils and vegetation Technical Paper No. 13 Division Plant Industry, CSIRO Australia Google Scholar
Costin, A.B. Jennings, J.N. Black, H.P. Thom, B.G. 1964 Snow action on Mt. Twynam, Snowy Mountains, Australia Journal Glaciology 2 219 228 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costin, A.B. Thom, B.G. Wimbush, D.J. Stuiver, M. 1967 Nonsorted steps in the Mt. Kosciusko area, Australia Bulletin Geological Society America 78 979 992 Google Scholar
Costin, A.B. Polach, H.A. 1971 Slope deposits in the Snowy Mountains, south-eastern Australia Quaternary Research 2 228 235 Google Scholar
Costin, A.B. Wimbush, D.J. 1973 Frost cracks and earth hummocks at Kosciusko, Snowy Mountains Arctic and Alpine Research 2 2 Google Scholar
Galloway, R.W. 1963 Glaciation in the Snowy Mountains: a reappraisal Proceedings Linnean Society New South Wales 88 180 198 Google Scholar
Galloway, R.W. 1965 Late Quaternary climates in Australia Journal Geology 73 603 618 Google Scholar
Galloway, R.W. Eriksson, K.G. 1971 Non-glacial nature of banded sediments in Trap-yard Creek Valley, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales Search 2 64 Google Scholar
Heusser, G.S. 1961 Some comparison between climatic changes in Northwestern North America and Patagonia Annals New York Academy of Science 59 642 657 Google Scholar
Peterson, J.A. 1968 Cirque morphology and Pleistocene ice formation conditions in south-eastern Australia Australian Geographical Studies 2 67 83 Google Scholar
Porter, S.C. 1971 Fuctuations of late Pleistocene alpine glaciers in western North America Turekian, K.K. Late Cenozoic Glacial Ages Yale University Press 307 329 Google Scholar
Porter, S.C. Denton, G.H. 1967 Chronology of neoglaciation in the North American Cordillera American Journal Science 265 177 210 CrossRefGoogle Scholar