Location, age and origin of pingo remnants in the Drentsche AA valley area (The Netherlands)

Abstract

Cross sections of five pingo remnants in the Drentsche Aa valley area reveal that the remnants are situated on the floors of small Pleniglacial tributary valleys. Lithological and palynological data from organic levels below some ramparts of these pingo remnants suggest growth of most of the pingos in a thaw lake environment. A hydrostatic (closed-system) origin of the pingos is suggested. Radiocarbon data from the organic levels and the Iithostratigraphic position of the ramparts indicate that the pingos developed between 25,000 and 19,000 BP. Transformation of the pingos into pingo remnants was not isochronous, but occurred until the middle Late Glacial (Late Weichselian).