GEOMORPHIC TRACES OF QUATERNARY CLIMATES IN THE CORDILLERA CENTRAL, DOMINICAN-REPUBLIC

The Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic, island of Hispaniola , exceeds 3,000 m in height. Schubert and Medina (1982) identified pos sible relict glacial geomorphic features on air photographs. Modern mi d-elevation lapse rates of -8.5 degrees C km(-1) yield plausible paleo -snowlines below peak elevations with sea-surface temperature depressi ons between 2 degrees and 8 degrees C, although paleo-dynamics of the tradewind inversion may be more important. This paper reports results of initial field reconnaissance during 1996. In addition to surfaces i nterpreted as modern and as Tertiary relicts, there are also features that post-date surfaces of postulated Tertiary age yet are unexplained by modern processes. These include diamictons, cirque-like depression s, incised alluvial fans, block fields, and debris lobes (interpreted by Schubert and Medina, 1982, as solifluction remnants). It is conclud ed that the climate of Hispaniola has not been complacent during the Q uaternary because the present climatic state cannot explain the observ ed landscape.