Iberia, Land of Glaciers

How The Mountains Were Shaped By Glaciers

1st Edition - September 22, 2021
Editors: Marc Oliva, David Palacios, José M. Fernández-Fernández
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 9 4 1 - 6
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 9 6 9 - 0

Iberia, Land of Glaciers: How The Mountains Were Shaped By Glaciers discusses the impact of past glaciers in the current landscape of Iberia. Currently, there are only small glacie… Read more

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Iberia, Land of Glaciers: How The Mountains Were Shaped By Glaciers discusses the impact of past glaciers in the current landscape of Iberia. Currently, there are only small glaciers in the highest peaks of the Pyrenees that are the legacy of the last cold period that ended at the end of the 19th century: The Little Ice Age. However, an accurate observation of the landscape of the highest peaks and adjacent valleys of the Iberian Peninsula reveals a past shaped by the successive passage of glaciers with hundreds of meters of ice, similar to what happens today in the Alps or Patagonia.

Iberian glaciation has resulted in ice expansion through valleys that are now used by the road network and where important populations settle; in addition, large accumulations of sediments deposited by those glaciers are still unstable today and can trigger risks for mountain populations. Iberia, Land of Glaciers presents the impact of the glaciers in the landscape of mountains following a more educational perspective with examples of 21 Iberian massifs written by specialists from each of the areas.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Contributors
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1. The impact of the Quaternary ice ages on the landscape
Chapter 2. Quaternary ice ages in the Iberian Peninsula
1. Introduction
2. The Quaternary glacial cycles
3. Glacial–interglacial cycles in the context of the Iberian Peninsula
4. Rapid climatic variability of the last glacial period
5. The last deglaciation
6. The Holocene
7. Conclusions and reflections
Chapter 3. The glacial landscapes of the Iberian Peninsula within the Mediterranean region
1. The Mediterranean mountains
2. Quaternary glaciation in the Mediterranean mountains
3. Recent glaciers in the Mediterranean mountains
4. Iberia—a special place in the Mediterranean mountains
Chapter 4. The Iberian Peninsula: from palaeoglaciers to the current glaciers
Chapter 4.1. The glaciers of the Southeastern Pyrenees
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The La Màniga-La Feixa complex and key glacial landforms to understand the glacial evolution in the Southeastern Pyrenees
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Southeastern Pyrenees in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.2. The glaciers of the Central-Eastern Pyrenees
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Unarre glacier complex
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Central-Eastern Pyrenees in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.3. The glaciers of the Central-Western Pyrenees
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The glacial valleys of Cinca and Alto Esera
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Central-Western Pyrenees in the context of glacial processes in the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.4. The glaciers of the eastern massifs of Cantabria, the Burgos Mountains and the Basque Country
1. The glacial landscapes of the Eastern Cantabrian Mountains
2. The discovery and study of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms in the Eastern Cantabrian Mountains
4. Chronology of glacial landforms in the Eastern Cantabrian Mountains
5. The Trueba Valley: an example of the low-altitude Quaternary glacial development in the Cantabrian Mountains
6. The significance of the glacial landforms in the Pas and Basque Mountains in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.5. The glaciers of the Montaña Palentina
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Carrión glacial valley: the largest glacier ice field tongue in Carrión-Peña Prieta Massif
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Montaña Palentina in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.6. The glaciers of the western massifs of Cantabria
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery and study of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The glacial valley of Brañavieja, Alto Campoo
6. The significance of glacial landforms in the high valleys of the Ebro, Saja, and Nansa basins in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.7. The glaciers in the Redes Natural Park
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of the glacial landforms
3. The distribution of the glacial landforms
4. The chronology of the glacial landforms
5. The Monasterio River Valley: a geomorphological and geochronological reference point
6. The significance of the glacial landforms within the Redes Natural Park in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.8. The glaciers of the Picos de Europa
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of the glacial landforms
3. The distribution of the glacial landforms
4. The chronology of the glacial landforms
5. The environment of the Lagos de Covadonga, a representative enclave of past glaciations in the Picos de Europa
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Picos de Europa in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.9. The glaciers of the Central-Western Asturian Mountains
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery and study of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Puerto de Ventana, a representative site in the central-western sector of the Asturian Mountains
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the central-western sector of Asturias in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.10. The glaciers of the Leonese Cantabrian Mountains
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Sil glacier complex: ice field, transfluent glaciers, and alpine glaciers
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Leonese Cantabrian Mountains in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.11. The glaciers of the Montes de León
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The glacial morphology of the Vizcodillo Massif
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Montes de León in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.12. The glaciers around Lake Sanabria
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. Lake Sanabria: a geomorphological and geochronological reference point
6. The significance of the glacial landforms around Lake Sanabria in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.13. The glaciers in Western Galicia
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Serra do Xistral, an exceptional example of glacial dynamics in low-altitude mountains
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of Western Galicia in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.14. The glaciers in Eastern Galicia
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The uniqueness of the ice fields of the Eastern Galician Mountains
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Eastern Galician Mountains in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.15. The glaciers of the Peneda, Amarela, and Gerês-Xurés massifs
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. Structural context and glaciers in the Serra do Xurés
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Peneda, Amarela and Gerês-Xurés massifs in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.16. The glaciers of Serra da Estrela
1. Geographical setting
2. History of the research on glacial landforms
3. Distribution of the glacial landforms
4. Chronology of the glacial landforms
5. The upper catchment of the Zêzere glacial valley
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Serra da Estrela in the context of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.17. The glaciers of the Iberian Range
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The glacial valley of Laguna Negra in the Sierra de Urbión, the most representative glacial valleys of this mountain range
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Iberian Range in the context of the glacial development of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.18. The glaciers of the Sierra de Gredos
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Cuerpo de Hombre valley, the most representative of the glacial evolution in the Sierra de Gredos
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Sierra de Gredos in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.19. The glaciers of the Sierras de Guadarrama and Somosierra
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glacial landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Peñalara Glacier cirques, the most representative of the Sierras de Guadarrama and Somosierra
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of Guadarrama and Somosierra in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.20. The glaciers of the Sierra Nevada
1. The geographical framework
2. The discovery of glacial landforms
3. The distribution of glaciers and their associated landforms
4. The chronology of glacial landforms
5. The Poqueira glacial system
6. The significance of the glacial landforms of the Sierra Nevada in the context of the climatic evolution of the Iberian Peninsula
Chapter 4.21. The existing glaciers of the Iberian Peninsula: the Central Pyrenees
1. The geographical framework of the Pyrenean glaciers
2. The discovery and study of the Pyrenean glaciers
3. The Pyrenean glaciers
4. Chronology and retreat of the Pyrenean glaciers
5. Evolution and regression in the historical period: the case of the Monte Perdido Glacier
6. The significance Pyrenean glaciers in the context of climate change
Chapter 5. Iberia: land of the ancient glaciers
1. The singularity of the Iberian Peninsula in the context of the world's recent glacial evolution
2. The uniqueness of the Iberian glacial landscapes
3. The legacy of previous glaciations to the last glacial cycle in Iberia
4. The maximum extent of glaciers in Iberia during the last glacial cycle
5. The Iberian evidence of glacial oscillations during Termination I
6. Glacial activity during the Holocene in Iberian mountains
7. The Little Ice Age in Iberia: the gateway to the current glacial retreat
8. Pyrenean glaciers, the last Iberian ice
9. The anthropogenic impact on glacial morphologies
List of abbreviations
Index

Marc Oliva

Marc Oliva holds a PhD in Geography from the Universitat de Barcelona, where he works now as research scientist and leads a research group on Antarctic, Arctic and Alpine Environments. He has carried out research and teaching activities in universities of Portugal, Canada, Switzerland, Spain and Russia. He has participated in eight expeditions to Antarctica and four to the High Arctic. Apart from the Polar Regions, he has also conducted research in other mountain regions (Rocky Mountains, Alps, N Iceland, Pamir, Tien Shan, Pyrenees, and Cantabrian Mountains), which has provided him a wide comprehension of Earth surface processes in cold-climate environments. His research interests include the study of geomorphological processes and past environments and climate in the Polar Regions and high mountains using a wide range of natural records (glacial, periglacial, and lacustrine).

Affiliations and expertise

Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

David Palacios

David Palacios is Full Professor of Physical Geography at the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. He has been the coordinator for Spanish National Projects since 1998 to the present, and Spanish coordinator of two European Projects. He has served as founder and director of the High Mountain Physical Geography excellence research group for 12 years, and has authored over 200 international research papers, 100 chapters, and has edited five books.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain

José M. Fernández-Fernández

José M. Fernández-Fernández holds a PhD in Geography from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), where he is Assistant Professor. His research has focused on the relationships between glaciers and climate at different timescales since the last glacial cycle and the use of nunataks as key proxies of palaeoenvironmental evolution. He has conducted research in several mountains of Iceland (Tröllaskagi Peninsula), the Iberian Peninsula, and Antarctica (South Shetland Islands).

Affiliations and expertise

Centro de Estudos Geográficos (CEG) / Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território (IGOT), Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal