Pleistocene Glaciations of the Northwest of Iberia: Glacial Maximum Extent, Ice Thickness, and ELA of the Soajo Mountain

Soajo Mountain is located in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula near border between Portugal and Spain. Its highest elevation 1416 m at Pedrada summit. During Pleistocene, cascade cirques on east flank icefield that covered flattened surface of high plateau generated several glacier valleys. This study presents a paleoglacial reconstruction relict glacial landscape for Glacial Maximum Extent (GME) through following methods: (1) detailed geomorphological map supported by high-resolution orthophotography, digital models with spatial resolution 70 cm, field surveys; (2) delineation surface, calculation flowlines to obtain numerical model ice thickness; (3) an estimation paleoELA altitudes. The reconstruction, using GlaRe methodology, reveals 16 km2, including Lamas de Vez (mean 1150 m) radial flow north. arrangement glaciated area attests topographic, lithological, structural conditioning development small tongues, emphasis tongue flowing northwards, thickness 173 length 2.92 km. GME paleoglacier comprises three main sectors: Icefield, Aveleira Valleys, Eastern Sector. These paleoglaciers have achieved maximum volumes 214.4 hm3, 269.2 115.8 respectively, thicknesses 127 m, 118 respectively. On west flank, smaller named Branda da Gémea recorded volume 24.3 hm3 110 m. According ELA-AABR method, has one lowest ELA values NW, ranging from 1085 1057 due its oceanic location, orographic barrier effect, influence polar front.