La deglaciazione alpina nel Vallone Bellunese, Alpi Meridionali Orientali

The alpine deglaciation in the Vallone Bellunese, Southern Eastern Alps

Abstract

This study deals with the glacial landforms and deposits of the Vallone Bellunese (Piave glacier) which date back to a period that began with the alpine deglaciation and ended with the Bölling interstadial. This period was characterized by a rapid increase of temperature and a retreat of glaciers from the main alpine valleys. Through the investigations carried out in the last years, in particular detailed geomorphological mapping, drillings, radiometric datings and pollen analysis of two peat-bogs (Modolo and Chiesurazza), it has been possible to reconstruct an up-to-date chronological outline of the geomorphological evolution of this area during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene, and to improve the present knowledge on the alpine deglaciation in the southern side of the Alps. The Salce Stadial is defined; in that stadial the equilibrium-line altitude was about 1660 m and therefore it could be considered as one of the «ancient stadials» that occurred just after the LGM. The Salce Stadial had climatic conditions not so different from those of the LGM and an age between 16,200 and 15,000 years BP, therefore it is older than Bölling interstadial.