Timing and new geomorphologic evidence of the last deglaciation stages in Sierra Nevada (southern Spain)

The main objective of this research is to improve knowledge of the deglaciation stages in Sierra Nevada (southern Spain) by applying 36Cl cosmogenic exposure dating to 28 samples from moraine and fossil rock glacier boulders and glacial polished surfaces, in 5 glaciated valleys around Veleta Peak (3396 m asl; 37°03′02″N 3°20′54″W). The results show that shortly before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and during the LGM, the heads of the glacial valleys were occupied by ice tongues, with possible glacial transfluence between the valleys. After 19 ka, a major glacial regression started, but glaciers during the Oldest Dryas (OD) expanded again and refilled the valley bottoms. The glacial advances of the pre-LGM, LGM and OD formed polygenic moraine systems. During the Bølling-Allerød the glaciers receded and probably disappeared. Thereafter, the valley bottoms remained ice-free. During the Younger Dryas (YD) small glaciers developed again, but only in cirques shaped on east-facing slopes. Subsequently, these glaciers started retreating towards their valley heads and finally disappeared completely. With the onset of the Holocene, rock glaciers developed inside the deglaciated cirques on the eastern slopes of some valleys, but only under the most active and protected headwalls did large complex rock glaciers develop and remained active until the mid-Holocene.