Late Pleistocene glaciation of the Kosciuszko Massif, Snowy Mountains, Australia

Late Pleistocene glaciation of the Australian mainland was restricted to a small area of the southeastern highlands. Geomorphic mapping of the area an d exposure dating using the in situ produced cosmogenic isotope Be-10 provi des evidence for at least two distinct glaciations. The Early Kosciuszko gl aciation consisted of a single glacier advance before 59,300 +/- 5400 years ago (Snowy River Advance). The Late Kosciuszko glaciation comprised three glacier advances 32,000 +/- 2500 (Headley Tarn Advance), 19,100 +/- 1600 (B lue Lake Advance), and 16,800 +/- 1400 years ago (Mt. Twynam Advance). The Early Kosciuszko glaciation was the most extensive and the Late Kosciuszko advances were progressively less extensive. These periods of glaciation in the highlands correspond to episodes of periglacial activity and peaks in l ake levels and river discharge at lower elevations in southeastern Australi a. Glacier advances on the Kosciuszko Massif correlate with advances in Tas mania, South America, and New Zealand and are broadly representative of hem ispheric climate changes during the last glacial cycle. (C) 2001 University of Washington.