HIGH-ALTITUDE ENVIRONMENTS AND GLACIERS FLUCTUATIONS IN THE WESTERN SECTOR OF THE AOSTA VALLEY DURING THE HOLOCENE

Abstract

Pini R. et al., High-altitude environments and glaciers fluctuations in the western sector of the Aosta Valley during the Holocene (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011) Palaeobotanical and chronological data from high-altitude mire successions in the western Alps (Aosta Valley) are here compared with geomorphological evidences of glacier oscillations, to describe the history of glacial systems and the occurrence of phases of climatic optimum during the first half of the Holocene. These phases are marked by periods of glacier recession, rise of the forest limit up to altitudes above 2400 m and widespread tufa deposition at 2000 m altitude. These data are in good agreement with available information from the Central Italian, the Swiss and the Austrian Alps.