Evidence of Neoglacial Solifluction at Okstindan, North Norway

Abstract

A section excavated through two adjacent turf-banked solifluction lobes has revealed buried soils beneath each solifluction sheet. Five radiocarbon dates are reported from the buried soils and these reveal evidence of soil movement which probably extends over nearly 3,000 years until the present. The initiation of the movement appears to be linked to the late Sub-Boreal climatic deterioration and Neoglacial glacier expansion which induced the development of a late-lying snow patch at the study site. The first period of movement appears to have been faster than that during the later phase. It is suggested that this reduced rate is associated with a decrease in slope angle and to increased distance from the late-lying snow bank at the head of the slope, rather than to a less severe climatic environment.