DATATION OF SOME HOLOCENE PEAT SEDIMENTS AND GLACIER FLUCTUATIONS IN THE KERGUELEN-ISLANDS

The retreat of the glacier snouts in the Kerguelen islands is clearly related to the slight warming and the reduced precipitation over the l ast 25 years. Organic deposits sampled on the new deglaciated areas ha ve been dated using C-14 method. Information on the ecological conditi ons that predominated during the formation of these peat deposits was assessed from their fossil diatom flora content. The range of the glac ier fluctuations is discussed. Two warm period- are recognized, 10 000 and 5 000 yr B.P., respectively. A third period, 2 200-900 yr B.P., w as characterised by small fluctuations of the glacier snouts. The curr ent deglaciation, which began at the end of the Little Ice Age and dec elerated 25 yr ago, is the mast important since the beginning of the h olocene period.