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Uniform geological datasets are a prerequisite for geological GIS analyses. Although the Geological Atlas of Switzerland 1:25,000 aims to supply spatial geological information nationwide, little effort has been undertaken in the past to harmonise this map series and its vector datasets. In the course of the HARMOS project, lithostratigraphic nomenclature was harmonised and standard map legends for a target scale of 1:25,000 were produced. This allows representing the lithostratigraphic units of Switzerland in a homogeneous way and sets a new reference in the lithostratigraphy of Switzerland. More than 40 experts in the field of regional stratigraphy contributed their knowledge to the project and, together with the Swiss Committee on Stratigraphy, guaranteed a high quality level. All results are presented in the Lithostratigraphic Lexicon of Switzerland, available cost-free online at http://www.strati.ch . By improving quality and accessibility of lithostratigraphic information, we supply a fundamental basis for the Swiss geological community and further research.

To reconstruct the timing of Alpine glacier advances onto the Jura Mountains, we sampled 17 Alpine erratic boulders within and beyond the LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) extent of the Valais Glacier along three transect for the analysis of cosmogenic 10 Be. Our results indicate at least two advances into the study area in Northwestern Switzerland; one during the LGM and one beforehand. Reaching of the maximum extent of by the Valais Glacier into the Jura mountains during the LGM occurred at 21.9 ± 1.8 ka based on erratic boulders exposure ages. Ages of boulders located beyond the LGM extent of the Valais Glacier vary from 19.9 ± 1.6 to 144.0 ± 9.6 ka. These ages indicate that many of the boulders were displaced and re-deposited by local ice in the Jura Mountains both during and perhaps even prior to the LGM. Therefore, the chronology of the pre-LGM advance(s) of Alpine glaciers into the Jura Mountains remains still to be elaborated.

One of the major issues in (palaeo-) climatology is the response of Antarctic ice sheets to global climate changes. Antarctic ice volume has varied in the past but the extent and timing of these fluctuations are not well known. In this study, we address the question of amplitude and timing of past Antarctic ice level changes by surface exposure dating using in situ produced cosmogenic nuclides (10Be and 21Ne). The study area lies in the Ricker Hills, a nunatak at the boundary of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet in southern Victoria Land. By determining exposure ages of erratic boulders from glacial drifts we directly date East Antarctic Ice Sheet variations. Erosion-corrected neon and beryllium exposure ages indicate that a major ice advance reaching elevations of about 500 m above present ice levels occurred between 1.125 and 1.375 million years before present. Subsequent ice fluctuations were of lesser extent but timing is difficult as all erratic boulders from related deposits show complex exposure histories. Sample-specific erosion rates were on the order of 20–45 cm Ma-1 for a quartzite and 10–65 cm Ma-1 for a sandstone boulder and imply that the modern cold, arid climate has persisted since at least the early Pleistocene.

Earlier work in northeast Greenland has suggested a limited advance of the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, this concept has recently been challenged by marine geological studies, indicating grounded ice on the continental shelf at this time. New Be-10-ages from the Store Koldewey island, northeast Greenland, suggest that unscoured mountain plateaus at the outer coast were covered at least partly by cold-based ice during the LGM. It is, however, still inconclusive whether this ice was dynamically connected to the Greenland Ice Sheet or not. Regardless of the LGM ice sheet extent, the Be-10 results from Store Koldewey add to a growing body of evidence suggesting considerable antiquity of crystalline unscoured terrain near present and Pleistocene ice sheet margins.

Earlier work in northeast Greenland has suggested a limited advance of the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, this concept has recently been challenged by marine geological studies, indicating grounded ice on the continental shelf at this time. New super(10)Be-ages from the Store Koldewey island, northeast Greenland, suggest that unscoured mountain plateaus at the outer coast were covered at least partly by cold-based ice during the LGM. It is, however, still inconclusive whether this ice was dynamically connected to the Greenland Ice Sheet or not.Regardless of the LGM ice sheet extent, the super(10)Be results from Store Koldewey add to a growing body of evidence suggesting considerable antiquity of crystalline unscoured terrain near present and Pleistocene ice sheet margins.

Earlier work in northeast Greenland has suggested a limited advance of the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, this concept has recently been challenged by marine geological studies, indicating grounded ice on the continental shelf at this time. New10Be-ages from the Store Koldewey island, northeast Greenland, suggest that unscoured mountain plateaus at the outer coast were covered at least partly by cold-based ice during the LGM. It is, however, still inconclusive whether this ice was dynamically connected to the Greenland Ice Sheet or not. Regardless of the LGM ice sheet extent, the10Be results from Store Koldewey add to a growing body of evidence suggesting considerable antiquity of crystalline unscoured terrain near present and Pleistocene ice sheet margins.

Earlier work in northeast Greenland has suggested a limited advance of the Greenland Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). However, this concept has recently been challenged by marine geological studies, indicating grounded ice on the continental shelf at this time. New 10 Be-ages from the Store Koldewey island, northeast Greenland, suggest that unscoured mountain plateaus at the outer coast were covered at least partly by cold-based ice during the LGM. It is, however, still inconclusive whether this ice was dynamically connected to the Greenland Ice Sheet or not. Regardless of the LGM ice sheet extent, the 10 Be results from Store Koldewey add to a growing body of evidence suggesting considerable antiquity of crystalline unscoured terrain near present and Pleistocene ice sheet margins.