Modelling glacial and periglacial processes in the Karkonosze Mountains

The Karkonosze Mountains are one of the few ranges within the Bohemian Massif that preserve evidence of Pleistocene glaciations. They also constitute an area where some of the earliest investigations into mountain glaciation and the processes now referred to as periglacial were undertaken. Despite the relatively good geomorphological understanding of the Karkonosze, the abundance of environmental studies, and the broad availability of digital datasets, a clear synthesis remains lacking, not only regarding the age of the former glaciers, but also their extent and thickness. Changes in the altitudinal zones in which periglacial processes operated during the Pleistocene and Holocene have likewise not been examined. In this study, we re-evaluate the existing literature and available rock- and sediment-dating data. We conduct a detailed analysis of a high-resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM) using GIS-based methods. The results enable a partial reconstruction of the extent of the Karkonosze glaciers and allow us to determine the spatial range and duration of the periglacial zone. The landforms shaped by these processes are fundamental to the distinctive character of the Polish and Czech national parks in the region, and knowledge of their origin should be communicated effectively to a broader audience.