The spatial distribution of middle and late pleistocene cirques in greece

Abstract

In reece, iddle to ate leistocene mountain glaciations appear to have been quite extensive, along the mountain range of indus, on t lympus and in the highlands of eloponnesus and rete. This study focuses on the extent of the iddle to ate leistocene glaciations in reece based on the examination of cirque formations. An initial spatial database of these glacial forms was created for the first time in Greece, including cirque location and morphometric properties. In total, 265 cirques were recorded covering a total area of 94.9 km2 with limestone as the dominant underlying lithology. The number of cirques has decreased in southern reece. Cirques occur at altitudes ranging from 2770 to 1600 m a.s.l. The largest cirque areas are observed in northern reece. Since several highlands of reece have uplifted, the mean elevations of these cirques have increased in time. In northern reece the cirques are wider, longer and deeper. The vast majority of cirques are facing towards the northeastern hemisphere due to more severe climatic conditions originating from the northeast during glacial periods.