HOLOCENE GLACIATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND'S SOUTHERN ALPS DATED BY IN-SITU BE-10

Although Holocene climate changes have influenced human evolution, the nature of climate changes during the current interglacial are not well understood. This is mostly due to sparse well-dated climate records outside polar regions. In particular, records from the southern hemisphere are needed to get a better understanding of the regional to global character of Holocene climate excursions. The moraine record of New Zealand's Southern Alps offers the unique opportunity to reconstruct Holocene glaciations in southern mid-latitudes. At least five Holocene glaciations deposited well-preserved moraine belts that can be mapped in several piedmont and mountain glacier systems. Since recently, glacial advances can be accurately dated throughout the Holocene period using Be-10 surface exposure dating. We present a preliminary Be-10 chronology from Holocene moraines from the Hooker, Muller, and Tasman glacier in the Lake Pukaki area and compare this climate event record with other climate records.