ELA Reconstruction of late Quaternary in the Green Mountain in Zagros, Iran

Seif, Abdullah; Beranvand, Hojattolla

ELA Reconstruction of late Quaternary in the Green Mountain in Zagros, Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Planning, University of Isfahan, Iran

² Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Reconstruction of ancient snow borders in the mountainous regions of Iran is one of the important ways to investigate the evolution of past climatic geomorphology. Meanwhile, the precise identification of glacial effects and the limits of their expansion in the mountainous regions of Iran is considered the best key for morphoclimatic and morphodynamic demarcations. The main goal of this research is to reconstruct the elevation of the snow boundary (ELA) of the late Quaternary in the Green Heights located in the Middle Zagros. For the reconstruction of ELA, the digital database, geomatic techniques, frequent field visits and glacial geomorphic evidence, including terminal moraines, have been used. A GPS device was used to determine the height of the moraines and to determine their position, and reconstruction calculations were performed using the Hofer, Lewis and Cirque Porter methods. After preparing the required layers, finally, the geomorphological map of the area was drawn and the exact location of the moraines was determined on it. The results show that based on climate statistics, the current ELA level has been reconstructed at an altitude of 4577 meters. The average height of the total snow border located on the northern slopes of the Green Heights was estimated to be 2531 meters and 2739 meters, respectively, by Hofer and Lewis methods. Also, the average height of the total snow border located on the southern slopes of these heights was estimated to be 2795 meters and 2847 meters, respectively, by Hofer and Lewis methods. It should be noted that according to Porter's Cirque Floor method, ELA is located in Green Heights at an altitude of 2780 meters

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