SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE OF VALLEY GLACIATION IN THE HIGH ALLEGHENIES OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA

A systematic survey of the high Alleghenies of southern Pennsylvania has been undertaken to search for evidence of valley glaciers. Valley glaciers are expected to have occurred in this area during the Pleistocene glacial maxima because of the topography, elevation, current amount of winter precipitation, and the proximity to the edge of the Laurentide ice sheet (100-150 km). Several localized U-shaped valleys have been identified, some of which are over 7km long. Nevertheless, no evidence of moraines or other obvious glacial sedimentary features have been found. Thus, we have not found definitive evidence of valley glaciation despite the tantalizing geomorphic suggestions.