Late Glacial Climatic Fluctuations in Ecuador: Glacier Retreat during Younger Dryas Time

Glaciers in Ecuador advanced before 12,500 yr BP, and between 10,500 and 9000 yr BP. We present a detailed record of climate change in highland equatorial South America throughout the last deglaciation (14,000-9000 yr BP). We find that the sedimentary record between the glacier advances indicates that glaciers did not advance during Younger Dryas time. A previously suggested Younger Dryas-equivalent glacier advance predates the Younger Dryas event by at least 2000 yr. In the Ecuadorian Andes, no evidence for a Younger Dryas cooling has been found to date. Rapid climatic fluctuations during the last deglaciation are documented by glacier advances in Ecuador, but they are not synchronous with the European events.