Journal
HOLOCENE
Volume 23, Issue 3, Pages 432-446Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/0959683612463104
Keywords
deglaciation; early Holocene; glacio-isostatic rebound; Iceland; landsliding; paraglacial
Funding
- Institut Universitaire de France
- CNRS [Prodig UMR 8586, Geolab UMR 6042]
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The Hofdoaholar rock avalanche, in the Skagafjordur area of northern Iceland, was investigated on the basis of a geomorphological analysis of its landforms and close surrounding environment. Thanks to sound chronological constraints (C-14 dating from birch remnants in peat areas that developed within depressions over the chaotic rock-avalanche deposit, tephrochronological sequences resulting from subsequent ash fallouts over the deposit, calibration of an age-depth model of peats and previously dated raised beaches), we define the rock-avalanche implementation with a wider timeframe between 10,200 and 7975 cal. yr BP and with a narrower frame between 9000 and 8195 +/- 45 cal. yr BP. Such a well constrained timing proposes one of the most precise datings of an early-Holocene major slope failure in Iceland. This result fits well in the known chronology of the deglaciation in this area and in the prevailing Icelandic theory of a generalized phase of landsliding that occurred shortly after the deglaciation of the area. The main driver for the rockavalanche occurrence is associated to a paraglacial origin; glacio-isostatic rebound, associated to rockwall debuttressing, is thought to be the main factor in the genesis of this Boreal major disequilibrium.
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