Morphometric analysis of cirques on the Iberian Peninsula provides insights into climate during past glaciations

Pellitero, Ramón, Barr, Iestyn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9066-8738, Spagnolo, Matteo and Tomkins, Matthew (2024) Morphometric analysis of cirques on the Iberian Peninsula provides insights into climate during past glaciations. Geomorphology, 461. 109318. ISSN 0169-555X

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Abstract

We present the first comprehensive geodatabase of glacial cirques on the Iberian Peninsula, excluding the Pyrenees. A total of 1519 cirques were mapped using Google Earth, guided by published literature. Cirque morphometry was retrieved using the ACME GIS tool. Cirques on the Iberian Peninsula are mostly located in the Cantabrian Range, with smaller populations in the Iberian, Central and Betic ranges. Cirque lowest point elevation increases from N to S and W to E, following the glacier equilibrium-line altitude during the local Last Glacial Maximum. Cirque location, orientation, shape and size suggest they developed during marginal glaciations, except in certain subregions of the Cantabrian Range. Cirque location and orientation indicate that during cirque development atmospheric circulation was similar to present.