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Paleoclimatology (thesaurus)

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Preferred term

Pinedale glaciation  

Definition

  • The Pinedale (central Rocky Mountains) or Fraser (Cordilleran ice sheet) glaciation was the last of the major glaciations to appear in the Rocky Mountains in the United States. The Pinedale lasted from around 30,000 to 10,000 years ago, and was at its greatest extent between 23,500 and 21,000 years ago. This glaciation was somewhat distinct from the main Wisconsin glaciation, as it was only loosely related to the giant ice sheets and was instead composed of mountain glaciers, merging into the Cordilleran ice sheet. The Cordilleran ice sheet produced features such as glacial Lake Missoula, which broke free from its ice dam, causing the massive Missoula Floods. USGS geologists estimate that the cycle of flooding and reformation of the lake lasted an average of 55 years and that the floods occurred about 40 times over the 2,000-year period starting 15,000 years ago. Glacial lake outburst floods such as these are not uncommon today in Iceland and other places. (Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Glacial_Period#Pinedale_or_Fraser_glaciation_(Rocky_Mountains))

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Entry terms

  • Fraser glaciation

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http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/QX8-BC1HDPVL-M

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