Morphometric Characteristics of Glacial Cirques and Glacio-Karstic Dolines in Mount Geyik and Their Relation to Quaternary Equilibrium Line Altitudes

Abstract

Since the high-altitude regions of Türkiye’s mountainous areas were subjected to glaciation during the Quaternary glacial periods, glacial landforms are prominently developed and well-preserved in these landscapes. These landforms provide valuable insights into the paleoglacial conditions and environmental dynamics of past glaciation events in mountainous terrains. This study investigates the morphometric characteristics of cirques and glacio-karstic dolines on Mount Geyik, one of the key karstic plateaus within the Central Taurus Mountains. Based on the morphometric analyses, the spatial distribution of the paleo-Equilibrium Line Altitude (pELA) during the Quaternary glaciations was systematically reconstructed and interpreted. Mapping efforts identified 142 cirques and 31 glacio-karstic dolines within the study area. Using the floor altitudes of these landforms, the average pELA for the region was estimated at approximately 2185 m. However, this value does not represent a uniform level; rather, it varies as a function of several factors, including massif orientation, elevation, proximity to the sea, and total precipitation. Specifically, the pELA increases to ~2400 m in the north-facing sectors of the high karstic plateau, while it decreases to 2000 m or lower in the western and southwestern sections. These findings reveal a vertical difference of up to 630 m between the pELA levels of mountainous regions along the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea coasts. Regarding cirque morphometry, the cirques of the Eastern Black Sea Mountains exhibit surface areas approximately twice as large as those of Mount Geyik, and display depths exceeding Mount Geyik’s cirques by an average of 75 m. Overall, the results underscore the significant influence of topographic and climatic variables on pELA variability and cirque morphometry across Türkiye’s coastal mountain ranges.

Keywords

• Glacial cirque
• glacio-karstic doline
• pELA
• Mt. Geyik
• Quaternary glaciation.

Geyik Dağı Üzerinde Yer Alan Glasiyal Sirkler ile Glasiyo-Karstik Dolinlerin Morfometrik Özellikleri ve Bunların Kuvaterner Kalıcı Kar Sınırı ile İlişkileri / Morphometric Characteristics of Glacial Cirques and Glacio-Karstic Dolines in Mount Geyik and Their Relation to Quaternary Equilibrium Line Altitudes

Abstract

Türkiye’deki dağlık alanların yüksek kesimleri Kuvaterner’in buzul dönemlerinde buzullaşmaya uğradığı için bu alanlarda buzul yer şekillerini yoğun olarak görülmektedir ve bu yer şekilleri, dağlık alanlardaki eski buzullaşma koşullarını anlamamızı sağlar. Bu çalışmada, Orta Toroslar önemli karstik platolarından biri olan Geyik Dağı'ndaki sirklerin ve glasiyo-karstik dolinlerin özellikleri incelenmiş ve bu özellikler yardımıyla Kuvaterner buzullaşma dönemlerindeki eski kalıcı kar sınırının (pELA) dağılışı ortaya konmuştur. Haritalama çalışmalarına göre çalışma alanında 142 sirk ve 31 glasiyo-karstik dolin tespit edilmiştir. Bu yer şekillerinin taban yüksekliklerine göre çalışma alanındaki ortalama pELA 2185 m’dir. Ancak bu sınır tek bir seviyede olmayıp; kütlenin uzanımı, yükseklik, denize göre konum ve toplam yağış gibi faktörlere bağlı olarak değişmektedir. pELA yüksek karstik platonun kuzeye bakan kesimlerinde 2400 m’ye kadar çıkarken, batı ve güneybatıya doğru 2000 m ve altına düşmektedir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre Doğu Karadeniz ve Akdeniz kıyılarındaki dağlık alanların pELA sınırları arasında 630 m’lik bir yükseklik farkı bulunmaktadır. Sirk morfometrisi açısından ise, Doğu Karadeniz’deki sirkler Geyik Dağı'ndaki sirklerden iki kat daha geniş alana sahip olup ve derinlikleri 75 m daha fazladır. Bu sonuçlar ülkemiz kıyılarındaki dağlık alanların topografik ve iklimsel koşullarının pELA seviyeleri ve sirk morfometrileri üzerinde büyük bir etki yaptığını göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Buzul sirki
• glasiyo-karstik dolin
• pELA
• Kuvaterner buzullaşması
• Geyik Dağı

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