|  Alpine
glaciers are highly sensitive, large-scale and natural indicators
of climate fluctuations. They react to changes in atmospheric temperature
by retreat or advance. The advance and retreat of alpine glaciers
during historical and prehistorical time periods reflect the natural
variability of the preindustrial climate system. Glacier signals
are key elements of early detection strategies for dealing with possible
man-induced climate change.
The reconstruction of Holocene
glacier fluctuations helps to detect the range of natural climate
fluctuations. Therefore different methods for recontructin Holocene
glacier fluctuations exist. Glacier prints in the landscape such
as moraines, dumlins, roche montannée, glacial strial boundaries,
or U-shaped valleys may be helpful. Reading these glacial prints,
reconstructon of former glacier fluctuations is possible. Through
studying maps, visual records or documents information about Holocene
glacier fluctuations may be gathered. Fossil soils and trees as well
as evidence of former human activities in glaciated areas can also
reveal further information about glacier fluctuations. These methods
are discussed further in Quaternary paleoenvironments – methods.
To get an idea of the dimensions of fromer glacier extents,
see Quaternary paleoenvironments – results. |
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