Configuration of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in southwestern Norway during the Younger Dryas

Abstract

The extent of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in southwestern Norway is precisely located during the well-characterized Younger Dryas re-advance. However, the thickness of the ice sheet is less well constrained inland from the terminal position. Some exceptions include lateral moraines traced inland and up to 1000 m a.s.l. along Hardangerfjorden. Here, we apply 10Be dating in two areas: (1) bedrock and boulders in the high-relief landscapes near the Younger Dryas margin around the Bergen urban area, and (2) boulders from an upland 1600 m a.s.l. much farther (120 km) inland. We find that coastal summits ranging from ~400 to ~680 m a.s.l. and located only ~10–15 km up-flow from the ice margin, were covered by the Scandinavian Ice Sheet during the Younger Dryas. The scatter in the 10Be age population of 22 boulder samples is best explained by isotopic inheritance owing to inefficient subglacial erosion during the foregoing glaciation. Most of the 11 bedrock samples also exhibit inheritance, pointing to the source of inheritance in boulders and implying inefficient subglacial erosion during the last glaciation even in valley-bottoms near Bergen. Regional glacial striae compilations suggest that ice flow during maximum Younger Dryas ice-sheet configurations was for the most part cross-valley, with potentially low basal slip rates. Five new 10Be ages from the inland site help to constrain ice height far inland. We combine these new results with prior information to generate a cross profile of the Younger Dryas ice sheet in southern Norway.