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Re‐evaluation of MIS 3 glaciation using cosmogenic radionuclide and single grain luminescence ages, Kanas Valley, Chinese Altai
Author(s) -
Gribenski Natacha,
Jansson Krister N.,
Preusser Frank,
Harbor Jonathan M.,
Stroeven Arjen P.,
Trauerstein Mareike,
Blomdin Robin,
Heyman Jakob,
Caffee Marc W.,
Lifton Nathaniel A.,
Zhang Wei
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of quaternary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.142
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-1417
pISSN - 0267-8179
DOI - 10.1002/jqs.2998
Subject(s) - glacial period , moraine , geology , marine isotope stage , pleistocene , physical geography , isotopes of oxygen , paleontology , geochemistry , interglacial , geography
Previous investigations observed a period of major glacial advances in Central Asia during marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 3 (57–29 ka), out of phase with global ice volume records. We have re‐examined the Kanas moraine complex in the Altai Mountains of Central Asia, where an MIS 3 glaciation had been previously inferred. New and consistent cosmogenic exposure and single‐grain luminescence ages indicate that the Kanas complex was formed during MIS 2 (29–12 ka), which brings its timing in line with the global ice volume record. We also identified a lateral moraine from a more extensive ice extent that dates to late MIS 5/MIS 4. To place our results in a wider contextual framework, we review the chronologies of another 26 proposed major MIS 3 glacial advances in Central Asia. For most of these sites, we find that the chronological data do not provide an unequivocal case for MIS 3 glaciation.