From ice to ice-free: Glaciation in the Lake Ayr Valley, central Tasmania

Abstract

During the Last Glaciation in Tasmania a large ice cap developed on the western edge of the Central Plateau and overlapped on to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair area. Several reticulate lobes flowed from this source, with the largest northern outlet, the Mersey Glacier, covering an area of c. 282 km2. The Lake Ayr Valley was occupied by a smail diffiuent lobe of the Mersey Glacier, and the lack of activity caused few erosional features to be formed. Moraines are abundant and can be related to the general retreat phase of the glacial system. Evidence suggests that retreat was fairly rapid and nO're-advance occurred during this period. Deglacial warming was well underway by 11 040 ± 280 yrs BP (SUA 3060).