Lateglacial paleoglacier and paleoclimate reconstructions in the north-western Italian Alps

Lateglacial (19.0–11.7 ka ago) paleo-temperature records in the Western European Alps document several short-term cooling episodes within general post-Last Glacial Maximum warming trend, phase with North Hemisphere climatic oscillations. Alpine paleo-precipitation reconstructions are instead rare, and further constraints needed order to assess whether cold periods were associated a modified atmospheric circulation pattern over Alps. The paleoglacial record offers quantitative framework investigate paleoclimatic conditions glacier sensitivity response both temperature precipitation changes. Through combination of 10Be surface-exposure dating glacial landforms deposits constraining ice front surface, together numerical simulations (iSOSIA), our study aims reconstruct space time main stages paleo-climatic three tributary valleys (Valpelline, Valsavarenche Val di Cogne) located Dora Baltea catchment (north-western Italian Alps). Our dating-modelling approach reveals all investigated sectors two distinct paleoglacier at ca. 13 11 ka, documenting respectively configurations transition between Oldest Dryas period Bølling-Allerød interstadial, Younger early Holocene warming. Numerical ice-simulation outcomes suggest similar-to-today during stages, either same absolute or homogeneously decreased values catchment, although unique solution magnitudes could not be constrained from dataset. Using present-day magnitude, results provide offsets ?3.3 ?3.8 °C for older stage, ?2.7 ?3.2 younger coinciding upper range other proxies. Finally, glaciers’ climate fluctuations differ significantly catchments, much higher changes Equilibrium Line Altitude northern (Valpelline) compared southern (Valsavarenche tributaries, reflecting different topographic and/or valleys.