Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-jwnkl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T23:26:48.388Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The extent of middle Pleistocene ice cap in the coastal Dinaric Mountains of Croatia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Tihomir Marjanac*
Affiliation:
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Geology, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ljerka Marjanac
Affiliation:
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of Quaternary Paleontology and Geology, Ante Kovačića 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
*
Corresponding author. E-mail address:marjanac@geol.pmf.hr (T. Marjanac), ljerka@hazu.hr (L. Marjanac).

Abstract

Solitary limestone blocks and groups of blocks occur on Risnjak and Velebit Mountains and on the northern Adriatic islands of Krk and Rab. Previous researchers have interpreted some of these as a) erratic blocks, b) corrosional remnants, or c) rockfalls. We have studied their mode of occurrence and composition, and revised previous interpretations of their origin in the light of transport mechanism and depositional processes. After analyzing the context of the block positions and the physical processes responsible for their emplacement, and taking into account their sedimentological context (their association with glaciogenic sediments), we herein propose a glacial origin for most of these blocks. However, some blocks are indeed shaped by sub-soil corrosion, as evidenced by their structure. The interpreted erratic blocks on the inner northern Adriatic Sea islands document the presence of middle Pleistocene glaciation of Dinaric Mountains though not its maximal extent, which is still unclear as the ice terminus was in the area that is inundated by postglacial rise of Adriatic Sea. The reconstructed ice cap area, which extended along the coastal mountains from Risnjak Mt. to south Velebit Mt. and across the range from Lika Polje to Rab Island, is conservatively estimated to be 5400 km2.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agassiz, M.L. (1838). Upon glaciers, moraines, and erratic blocks. Edinburgh Philosophical Journal 24, 364383.Google Scholar
Bahun, S. (1974). Tektogeneza Velebita i postanak Jelar-naslaga. Geolo"ki vjesnik 27, 3551.Google Scholar
Belij, S. (1985a). )Glacijalni i periglacijalni reljef ju"nog Velebita. Posebna izdanja Srpskog geografskog dru"tva 61, 568.Google Scholar
Belij, S. (1985b). )Glacijalni reljef ju"nog Velebita. Geografski glasnik 47, 7185.Google Scholar
Benac, ?., "egota, T.(1990). Potopljena ris-virmska abrazijska terasa u podmorju ispred Rijeke, Hrvatska. Geolo"ki vjesnik 43, 4352.Google Scholar
Benac, ?., Senjanovi?, P., ?erina, P.(1995). Podmorski istra"iva?ki radovi u projektu "110 kV oto?ne veze".1st Croatian Geological Congress. ProceedingsInstitute of Geology, Croatian Geological Society, Zagreb, Croatia.7579.Google Scholar
Benn, D.I., Evans, D.J.A.(2010). Glaciers and Glaciation. second ed.Hodder Education, London.Google Scholar
Blazic, L., Adzic, I., Marjanac, T., Marjanac, Lj(2013). Ice advance into forested lake environment, evidence of rapid climate change. Case study of Middle Pleistocene Dinaric Mts. foreland, Croatia. Davos Atmosphere and Cryoshpere Assembly DACA-13; Symposium A1.1: from Explaining the Pleistocene to Projecting the Anthropocene, Session A1.1c Reconstructing and Understanding the PleistoceneAbstract 176Google Scholar
Bognar, A. (1994). Morfogeneza podru?ja bazena porje?ja Velike i Male Paklenice.3342.Pakleni?ki zbornik 1, National Park Paklenica, Starigrad-Paklenica, CroatiaGoogle Scholar
Bognar, A., Blazek, I.(1986). Geomorfolo"ka karta podru?ja Velike Paklenice, 1:25.000. Acta Carsologica 14"15, 199206.Google Scholar
Bognar, A., Prugove?ki, I.(1997). Glaciation traces in the area of the Risnjak Mountain Massif. Geologia Croatica 50, 2 269278.Google Scholar
Bognar, A., Faivre, S., Paveli?, J.(1991a). Tragovi oledbe na Sjevernom Velebitu. Geografski glasnik 53, 2739.Google Scholar
Bognar, A., Faivre, S., Paveli?, J.(1991b). Glacijacija sjevernog Velebita. Senjski zbornik 18, 181196.Gradski muzej Senj " Senjsko muzejsko dru"tvo, SenjGoogle Scholar
De Saussure, H.-B. (1779). Voyages dans les Alpes.Pr"c"des d'un essai sur l'historie naturelle des environs de Geneve 1. Samuel Fauche, Neuchatel, SwitzerlandGoogle Scholar
Dorren, L.K.A. (2003). A review of rockfall mechanics and modeling approaches. Progress in Physical Geography 27, 6987.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ehlers, J., Gibbard, P.L.(2004). Quaternary Glaciations " Extent and Chronology. Developments in Quaternary Science 2a. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Evans, S.G., Hungr, O.(1993). The assessment of rockfall hazard at the base of talus slopes. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 30, 620636.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fauque, L., Strecker, M.R.(1988). Large rock avalanche deposits (sturzstr"me, sturzstroms) at Sierra Aconquija, northern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 81, 579592.Google Scholar
Fortis, A. (1802). M"moires pour servir a l'historie naturelle et principalement a l'oryctographie de l'Italie, et de pays adjacens 1. J.J. Fuchs, Paris, France.Google Scholar
Furlani, S., Cucchi, F., Forti, P., Rossi, A.(2009). Comparison between coastal and inland Karst limestone lowering rates in the northeastern Adriatic Region (Italy and Croatia). Geomorphology 104, 7381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grimani, I., "u"njar, M., Bukovac, J., Milan, A., Nikler, L., Crnolatac, I., "iki?, D., Bla"kovi?, I.(1973). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, Tuma? za list Crikvenica L 33-102. Institut za geolo"ka istra"ivanja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod Beograd, 541.Google Scholar
Herak, M. (1972). Karst of Yugoslavia.Herak, M., Stringfield, V.T. Karst: Important Karst Regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Elsevier Publ. Co., Amsterdam.2583.Google Scholar
Herak, M. (1997). Croatia.Moores, E.M., Fairbridge, R.W. Encyclopedia of European and Asian Regional Geology. Chapman & Hall, London, U.K.155160.Google Scholar
Hs", K.J. (1975). Catastrophic debris streams (sturzstroms) generated by rockfalls. Geological Society of America Bulletin 86, 129140.Google Scholar
Hughes, P.D. (2004). Quaternary Glaciation in the Pindus Mountains, Northwest Greece.(Ph.D. thesis)Darwin College, University of Cambridge, U.K.http://www.qpg.geog.cam.ac.uk/people/hughes/Hughes%202004.pdfGoogle Scholar
Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C.(2008). Timing of glaciation in the Mediterranean mountains during the last cold stage. Journal of Quaternary Science 23, 575588.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., Gibbard, P.L.(2006a). Quaternary glacial history of the Mediterranean mountains. Progress in Physical Geography 30, 334364.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., Gibbard, P.L., Macklin, M.G., Gilmour, M.A., Smith, G.R.(2006b). The glacial history of the Pindus Mountains, Greece. Journal of Geology 114, 413434.Google Scholar
Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., Gibbard, P.L.(2007). Middle Pleistocene cold stage climates in the Mediterranean: new evidence from the glacial record. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 253, 5056.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., van Calsteren, P.C., Thomas, L.E., Adamson, K.R.(2010). Pleistocene ice caps on the coastal mountains of the Adriatic Sea. Quaternary Science Reviews 29, 36903708.Google Scholar
Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., van Calsteren, P.C., Thomas, L.E.(2011). The glacial history of the Dinaric Alps, Montenegro. Quaternary Science Reviews 30, 33933412.Google Scholar
Ivanovi?, A., Saka?, K., Markovi?, S., Soka?, B., "u"njar, M., Nikler, L., "u"njara, A.(1973). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, List Obrovac. L 33-140. Institut za geolo"ka istra"ivnja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod, Beograd.Google Scholar
Jura?i?, M., Benac, ?., Crmari?, R.(1999). Seabed and surface sediment map of the Kvarner Region, Adriatic Sea, Croatia (lithological map, 1:500.000). Geologia Croatica 52, 131140.Google Scholar
Lowe, D.R. (1976). Grain flow and grain flow deposits. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 46, 188199.Google Scholar
Lyell, Ch (1863). Geological Evidence of the antiquity of Man with Remarks on Theories of the Origin of Species by variation. John Murray, London.Google Scholar
Majcen, "., Korolija, B., Soka?, B., Nikler, L.(1970). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, List Zadar L 33-139. Institut za geolo"ka Istra"ivanja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod, Beograd.Google Scholar
Malez, M., Soka?, A.(1969). O starosti slatkovodnih naslaga Erveni?kog i "egarskog polja. III simpozij Dinarske asocijacije.Proceedings 1Institut za geolo"ka istra"ivanja, Zagreb, Croatia.8193.Google Scholar
Mamu"i?, P. (1962). Novija geolo"ka istra"ivanja otoka Raba. Geolo"ki vjesnik 15, 121141.Google Scholar
Mamu"i?, P., Milan, A.(1973). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, Tuma? za list Rab L33-144. Institut za geolo"ka Istra"ivanja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod, Beograd.539.Google Scholar
Mamu"i?, P., Milan, A., Korolija, B., Borovi?, I., Majcen, ".(1969). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, List Rab L 33-114. Institut za geolo"ka Istra"ivanja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod, Beograd.Google Scholar
Mamu"i?, P., Soka?, B., Veli?, I.(1970). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, List Silba, L 33-126. Institut za geolo"ka Istra"ivanja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod, Beograd.Google Scholar
Marjanac, Lj (2012). Pleistocene glacial and Periglacial Sediments of Kvarner, Northern Dalmatia and Southern Velebit Mt. " Evidence of Dinaric Glaciation.(Ph.D. thesis)University of Zagreb, Croatia.https://bib.irb.hr/datoteka/586790.MARJANAC_LJ_DISSERTATION.Bullzip.pdfGoogle Scholar
Marjanac, T., ?osovi?, V.(2000). Tertiary depositional history of Eastern Adriatic Realm.Pami?, J., Tomljenovi?, B. Outline of the Geology of the Dinarides and South Tisia with Field Guidebook. Guidebook Pancardi 2000 vol. 37, Vijesti Hrvatskoga geolo"kog dru"tva, 93103.Google Scholar
Marjanac, Lj, Marjanac, T.(2004). Glacial history of Croatian Adriatic and coastal Dinarides.Ehlers, J., Gibbard, P.L. Quaternary Glaciations " Extent and Chronology. Developments in Quaternary Science 2a. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.1926.Google Scholar
Marjanac, T., Marjanac, Lj, Ore"ki, E.(1990). Glacijalni i periglacijalni sedimenti u Novigradskom moru. Geolo"ki vjesnik 43, 3542.Google Scholar
Marjanac, T., Tom"a, A.M., Marjanac, Lj(2003). Krk-breccia, possible Impact-crater fill, Island of Krk in Eastern Adriatic Sea (Croatia).Dypvik, H., Burchell, M., Claeys, P. Cratering in Marine Environments and on Ice. Impact Studies. Springer, Berlin.115134.Google Scholar
Martel, P. (1744). An account of journey to the glaciers in Savoy.Mathews, C.E. 1900, The Annales of Mont Blanc. L.C. Page and co., Boston, U.S.A.341356.Google Scholar
Messerli, B. (1967). Die eiszeitliche und die gegenwartige Vertgletscherung im Mittelemeerraum. Geographica Helvetica 22, 105228.Google Scholar
Nikler, L. (1973). Nov prilog poznavanju oledbe Velebita. Geolo"ki vjesnik 25, 109112.Google Scholar
Olui?, M., Grandi?, S., Ha?ek, M., Hanich, M.(1972). Tektonska gra?a vanjskih Dinarida Jugoslavije. Nafta 23, 1"2 316.Google Scholar
Perica, D., Marjanac, T.(2009). Types of karren and their genesis on the Velebit Mountain.Gines, A., Knez, M., Slabe, T., Dreybrodt, W. Karst Rock Features. Karren Sculpturing 259274.Carsologica 9, Zalo"ba ZRC, Postojna " Ljubljana, SloveniaGoogle Scholar
Poljak, J. (1929). Geomorfolo"ki oblici krednih kr"nika Velebita. Vijesti geolo"kog zavoda u Zagrebu 3, 5385.Google Scholar
Rabineau, M., Bern", S., Olivet, J.L., Aslanian, D., Guillocheau, F., Joseph, Ph(2006). Paleo sea level reconsidered from direct observation of paleoshoreline position during Glacial Maxima (for the last 500.000 yr). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 252, 119137.Google Scholar
Rogli?, J. (1931). Glacijalni tragovi na Biokovu. Posebna izdanja srpskog geografskog dru"tva 10, 4951.Google Scholar
Rohling, E.J., Fenton, M., Jorissen, F.J., Bertrand, P., Ganssen, G., Caulet, J.P.(1998). Magnitudes of sea level lowstands of the past 500.000 years. Nature 394, 162165.Google Scholar
Slabe, T., Liu, H.(2009). Significant subsoil rock forms.Gines, A., Knez, M., Slabe, T., Dreybrodt, W. Karst Rock Features: Karren Sculpturing 123137.Carsologica 9, Zalo"ba ZRC, Postojna " Ljubljana, SloveniaGoogle Scholar
Soka?, B., Nikler, L., Veli?, I., Mamu"i?, P.(1974). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, List Gospi?, L 33 127. Institut za geolo"ka Istra"ivanja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod, Beograd, Google Scholar
"egota, T. (1968). Morska razina u holocenu i mla?em dijelu wurma. Geografski glasnik 30, 1539.Google Scholar
"egota, T. (1982). Razina mora i vertikalno gibanje dna Jadranskog mora od ris-virmskog interglacijala do danas. Geolo"ki vjesnik 35, 93109.Google Scholar
"u"njar, M., Bukovac, J., Nikler, L., Crnolatac, I., Milan, A., "iki?, D., Grimani, I., Vuli?, "., Bla"kovi?, I.(1970). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, List Crikvenica L 33-102. Institut za geolo"ka istra"ivanja Zagreb, Savezni geolo"ki zavod Beograd, Google Scholar
"u"njar, M., Soka?, B., Bahun, S., Bukovac, J., Nikler, L., Ivanovi?, A.(1973). Osnovna geolo"ka karta SFRJ 1:100.000, List Udbina, L 33-128. Inst. Geol. Istra". Zagreb, Savezni geol. zavod, Beograd, Google Scholar
Van Straaten, L.M.J.U. (1970). Holocene and Late Pleistocene sedimentation in the Adriatic Sea. Geologisches Rundschau 60, 106131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Veli?, J., Veli?, I., Kljajo, D.(2011). Sedimentary bodies, forms and occurrences in the Tudorevo and Mirevo glacial deposits of northern Velebit (Croatia). Geologia Croatica 64, 116.Google Scholar
von Charpentier, J. (1841). Essai sur les glaciers et sur le terrain erratique du bassi du Rh"ne. Imprimerie et librarie de Marc Ducloux, Lausanne.Google Scholar
Zseni, A. (2009). Subsoil shaping.Carsologica 9, Zalo"ba ZRC, Postojna " Ljubljana, SloveniaGines, A., Knez, M., Slabe, T., Dreybrodt, W. Karst Rock Features: Karren Sculpturing 103121.Google Scholar
Zupan Hajna, N., Mihevc, A., Pruner, P., Bos"k, P.(2010). Palaeomagnetic research on karst sediments in Slovenia. International Journal of Speleology 39, 2 4760.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Marjanac and Marjanac supplementary material

Appendix

Download Marjanac and Marjanac supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 44.3 KB