Rapid post-glacial bedrock weathering in coastal Norway

Quantifying bedrock weathering rates under diverse climate conditions is essential to understanding timescales of landscape evolution. Yet, are often difficult constrain, and associating a weathered landform specific formative environment can be complicated by overprinting successive processes temporally varying climate. In this study, we investigate three sites between 59°N 69°N along the Norwegian coast that display grussic saprolite, tafoni, linear grooves on lithologies. These phenomena have been invoked as examples geomorphic archives predating Quaternary glaciations consequently indicators minimal glacial erosion. Here apply cosmogenic nuclide chronometry assess recent erosional history. Our results demonstrate all experienced sufficient erosion remove most nuclides formed prior Last Glacial Maximum. This finding inconsistent with preservation surficial (<1–2 m) landforms non-erosive ice during last period, while simultaneously demonstrating post-glacial locally rapid (4–10 cm kyr−1) in cold temperate subarctic coastal locations.