Cihan BAYRAKDAR, Zeynel ÇILĞIN, Mehmet Fatih DÖKER, Ergin CANPOLAT

5546

Evidence of an active glacier in the Munzur Mountains, eastern Turkey

The Munzur Mountains were subjected to extensive and repeated glaciations during the Pleistocene. The presence of an active glacier in the region was not verified until this study. Here, we used remote sensing methods to identify and locate the glaciers and verified the activity of the largest glacier in the field. We named this glacier the Şahintaşı Glacier and studied it using 3D ArcGIS spatial analyses overlaid on high-resolution Geographical Information Systems (GIS) satellite images. The most current version of LANDSAT 8 (acquired on 14.08.2013) supplied the remote sensing information. We used principal component analysis on the data. The precise areas where glaciers might be located were plotted. The data collection provided critical information to formulate an accurate representation of the Şahintaşı Glacier. The glacier dimensions are significant. It has a total area of 104,587 ± 10,458 m2, with a length of 410 m, a width of 386 m, and an estimated maximum thickness of 90 ± 10 m. In the fore field, we identified 4 well-preserved terminal moraines. These moraines are remarkable in that the processes of their initial formation are immediately visible. The morphological properties of the cirque (its closure or high circularity, aspect, steepness, and near vertical walls), the high altitude, and the north-facing orientation are unique circumstances that have cumulatively helped preserve the Şahintaşı Glacier. The lithostratigraphic structure has had a large influence on the depth and circularity of the cirques. In the central section of the mountains, where the limestone is thicker, karstic development occurred vertically during the preglacial period, forming deep dolines that created steep-walled cirques and helped the glaciers survive until today. In addition, the mountains that are under the influence of northerly cold air masses in winter experience significant snowfall due to convective instability. The Munzur Mountains, which extend in an east-westerly direction in the manner of a 100-km wall and have summits surpassing 3000 m, allow for significant snow accumulation.
Anahtar Kelimeler:

Munzur Mountains, Şahintaşı Glacier, Pleistocene glaciations, karst, glacial geomorphology, GIS and remote sensing

Evidence of an active glacier in the Munzur Mountains, eastern Turkey

The Munzur Mountains were subjected to extensive and repeated glaciations during the Pleistocene. The presence of an active glacier in the region was not verified until this study. Here, we used remote sensing methods to identify and locate the glaciers and verified the activity of the largest glacier in the field. We named this glacier the Şahintaşı Glacier and studied it using 3D ArcGIS spatial analyses overlaid on high-resolution Geographical Information Systems (GIS) satellite images. The most current version of LANDSAT 8 (acquired on 14.08.2013) supplied the remote sensing information. We used principal component analysis on the data. The precise areas where glaciers might be located were plotted. The data collection provided critical information to formulate an accurate representation of the Şahintaşı Glacier. The glacier dimensions are significant. It has a total area of 104,587 ± 10,458 m2, with a length of 410 m, a width of 386 m, and an estimated maximum thickness of 90 ± 10 m. In the fore field, we identified 4 well-preserved terminal moraines. These moraines are remarkable in that the processes of their initial formation are immediately visible. The morphological properties of the cirque (its closure or high circularity, aspect, steepness, and near vertical walls), the high altitude, and the north-facing orientation are unique circumstances that have cumulatively helped preserve the Şahintaşı Glacier. The lithostratigraphic structure has had a large influence on the depth and circularity of the cirques. In the central section of the mountains, where the limestone is thicker, karstic development occurred vertically during the preglacial period, forming deep dolines that created steep-walled cirques and helped the glaciers survive until today. In addition, the mountains that are under the influence of northerly cold air masses in winter experience significant snowfall due to convective instability. The Munzur Mountains, which extend in an east-westerly direction in the manner of a 100-km wall and have summits surpassing 3000 m, allow for significant snow accumulation.
Keywords:

Munzur Mountains, Şahintaşı Glacier, Pleistocene glaciations, karst, glacial geomorphology, GIS and remote sensing,

PDF

___

  • Akçar N, Schlüchter C (2005) Paleoglaciations in Anatolia: a schematic review and first results. Eiszeitalter und Gegenwart 55: 102–121.
  • Akçar N, Yavuz V, Ivy-Ochs S, Kubik PW, Vardar M, Schlüchter C (2008). A case for a downwasting mountain glacier during Termination I, Verçenik Valley, northeastern Turkey. J Quaternary Sci 23: 273–285.
  • Atalay İ (1987). Türkiye jeomorfolojine giriş. İzmir, Turkey: Ege University (in Turkish).
  • Bayrakdar C (2012). Akdağ Kütlesi’nde (Batı Toroslar) karstlaşma- buzul ilişkisinin jeomorfolojik analizi. PhD, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey (in Turkish).
  • Bilgin T (1969). Gavur Dağı kütlesinde glasyal ve periglasiyal topografya şekilleri. İstanbul, Turkey: İÜ Coğrafya Enstitüsü (in Turkish).
  • Bilgin T (1972). Munzur Dağlarının doğu kısmının glasyal ve periglasyal morfoloji. İstanbul, Turkey: İÜ Coğrafya Enstitüsü (in Turkish).
  • Çılğın Z (2013). The influence of glacıatıon on the geomorphology of Ovacık Plain (Tunceli) and southwest catchment of Munzur Mountaın. Kilis 7 Aralık Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 6: 103–121 (in Turkish with English abstract).
  • Çılğın Z, Bayrakdar C, Oliphant JS (2014). An example of polygenetic geomorphologic development (karst-glacial-tectonics) on Munzur Mountains: Kepir Cave-Elbaba Spring karstic system. Int J Hum Sci 11: 89–104.
  • Çiner A (2003). Recent glaciers and late quaternary glacial deposits of Turkey. Geological Bulletin of Turkey 46 : 55–78.
  • Doğu AF, Somuncu M, Çiçek İ, Tunçel H, Gürgen G (1993). Kaçkar Dağında buzul şekilleri, yaylalar ve turizm. AÜ Türkiye Coğrafyası Dergisi 2: 157–184 (in Turkish).
  • Erinç S (1945). Doğu Karadeniz Dağlarında glasyal morfoloji araştırmaları. İstanbul, Turkey: İstanbul University (in Turkish).
  • Erinç S (1951). Glasiyal ve postglasiyal safhada Erciyes glasiyesi. İstanbul Üniversitesi Coğrafya Enstitüsü Dergisi 1: 82–90 (in Turkish).
  • Erinç S (1952). The present day glaciation in Turkey. In: 8th General Assembly and 17th International Congress of the International Geographical Union, Proceedings. Washington, DC, USA: International Geographical Union, pp. 326–330.
  • Erinç S (1953). Van’dan Cilo Dağlarına. İstanbul Üniversitesi Coğrafya Enstitüsü Dergisi 2: 84–106 (in Turkish).
  • Erinç S (1971). Jeomorfoloji II. İstanbul, Turkey: İstanbul Üniversitesi Coğrafya Enstitüsü (in Turkish).
  • Faust N (1989). “Image Enhancement.” Volume 20, Supplement 5 of the Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology. New York, NY, USA: Marcel Dekker.
  • Gao J, Liu Y (2001). Applications of remote sensing, GIS and GPS in glaciology: a review. Pro Phy Geogr 25: 520–540.
  • Gürgen G, Yeşilyurt S (2012). Karçal Mountain glaciers (Artvin- Turkey). Coğrafi Bilimler Dergisi 10: 91–104 (in Turkish with English abstract).
  • Hall DK, Martinec J (1985). Remote Sensing of Ice and Snow. London, UK: Chapman and Hall.
  • Hambrey MJ (1994) Glacial Environments. London, UK: UCL Press.
  • Hubbard B, Glasser N (2005). Field Techniques in Glaciology and Geomorphology. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Iyigun C, Türkeş M, Batmaz İ, Yozgatligil C, Purutçuoğlu V, Koç EK, Öztürk MZ (2013). Clustering current climate regions of Turkey by using a multivariate statistical method. Theo App Clima 114: 95–106.
  • Jackson BB (1983). Multivariate Data Analysis: An Introduction. Irwin, IL, USA: Homewood.
  • Jensen JR (1996). Introductory Image Processing: A Remote Sensing Perspective. London, UK: Prentice Hall.
  • Klimchouk A, Bayari S, Nazik L, Törk K (2006). Glacial destruction of cave systems in high mountains, with a special reference to the Aladaglar Massif, Central Taurus, Turkey. Acta Carso 35: 111–121.
  • Konig M, Winther JG, Isaksson E (2001). Measuring snow and ice properties from satellite. Rev Geophys 39: 1–28.
  • Kurter A, Sungur K (1991). Glaciers of the Middle East and Africa - glaciers of Turkey. US Geological Survey Professional Paper 1386-G-l. Reston, VA, USA: USGS.
  • Lillesand TM, Kiefer RW (2004). Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation. New York, NY, USA: John Wiley.
  • Messerli B (1967). Die Eiszeitliche und die Gegenwartige Vergletscherung in Mittelmeerraum. Geographica Helvetica 22: 105–228 (in German).
  • Özgül N (1981). Munzur Dağlarının jeolojisi. Ankara, Turkey: MTA.
  • Paterson W (1994). The Physics of Glaciers. Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press.
  • Rees WG (2001). Physical Principles of Remote Sensing. 2nd ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  • Roy DP, Wulder MA, Loveland TR, Woodcock CE, Allen RG, Anderson MC, Helder D, Irons JR, Johnson DM, Kennedy R et al. (2014). LANDSAT-8: Science and product vision for terrestrial global change research. Remote Sens Environ 145: 154–172.
  • Sarikaya MA (2012). Recession of the ice cap on Mount Ağrı (Ararat), Turkey, from 1976 to 2011 and its climatic significance. J Asian Earth Sci 46: 190–194.
  • Sarıkaya M, Çiner A, Zreda M (2011). Quaternary glaciations of Turkey. In: Ehlers J, Gibbard P, Hughes P, editors. Quaternary Glaciations - Extent and Chronology. Oxford, UK: Jordan Hill, pp. 393–403.
  • Sarıkaya MA, Zreda M, Çiner A (2009). Glaciations and paleoclimate of Mount Erciyes, central Turkey, since the Last Glacial Maximum, inferred from 36Cl cosmogenic dating and glacier modeling. Quaternary Sci Rev 28: 2326–2341.
  • Sarıkaya MA, Zreda M, Çiner A, Zweck C (2008). Cold and wet Last Glacial Maximum on Mount Sandıras, SW Turkey, inferred from cosmogenic dating and glacier modeling. Quaternary Sci Rev 27: 769–780.
  • Singh A, Harrison A (1985). Standardized principal components. Int J Remote Sens 6: 885–896.
  • Sugden DE, John BS (1976) Glaciers and Landscape: A Geomorphological Approach. London, UK: Edward Arnold.
  • Türkeş M (2010). Klimatoloji ve meteoroloji. 1st ed. İstanbul, Turkey: Kriter Yayınevi (in Turkish).
  • Türkeş M, Tatlı H (2011). Türkiye yağış bölgelerinin spektral kümeleme tekniğiyle belirlenmesi. In: Proceedings of the National Geographical Congress with International Participation, İstanbul, Turkey (CD-ROM).
  • Yeşilyurt S (2010). CBS ve uzaktan algılama yöntemleriyle munzur dağları glasyal jeomorfolojisinin analizi. Ankara, Turkey: Ankara Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dönem Projesi (in Turkish).
  • Yeşilyurt S (2012). Late Quaternary glaciations of the Munzur Mountains, Eastern Anatolia, Turkey: an assessment using remote sensing and GIS techniques. In: XVIII INQUA Congress; 21–27 July 2011; Bern, Switzerland. Abstracts/ Quaternary International 279–280: 548.
Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences-Cover
  • ISSN: 1300-0985
  • Yayın Aralığı: Yılda 6 Sayı
  • Yayıncı: TÜBİTAK
Arşiv
Sayıdaki Diğer Makaleler

Determining the main strand of the Eskişehir strike-slip fault zone using subsidiary structures and seismicity: a hypothesis tested by seismic reflection studies

Gürol SEYİTOĞLU, G. Berkan ECEVİTOĞLU, Bülent KAYPAK, Yücel GÜNEY, Muammer TÜN, Korhan ESAT

An approach to paleoclimatic conditions for Devonian (upper Lochkovian and middle Givetian) ironstone formation, NW Anatolian carbonate platform

İsmail Ömer YILMAZ, M. Cemal GÖNCÜOĞLU, Dilek Gülnur DEMİRAY, İbrahim GEDİK

Provenance, diagenesis, tectonic setting, and geochemistry of Hawkesbury Sandstone (Middle Triassic), southern Sydney Basin, Australia

Samir Mahmoud ZAID, Fahad AL GAHTANI

Evidence of an active glacier in the Munzur Mountains, eastern Turkey

Cihan BAYRAKDAR, Zeynel ÇILĞIN, Mehmet Fatih DÖKER, Ergin CANPOLAT

Discovery of hiatus in Feixianguan Formation and its geological implications, Sichuan Basin, SW China

Yang YU, Xiucheng TAN, Peiyuan CHEN, Huiting YANG, Teng MA, Jian CAO, Xiuju JIN