Geophysical survey of glacial landscape in four Bohemian Forest cirques

Abstract

This article addresses issues related to the geomorphology of previously glaciated areas of the Bohemian Forest, for which exact data have so far been lacking. This includes the development of cirque walls, the existence of glacial forms or sediments older than the Marine Isotope Stage 2 glaciation, the more precise differentiation of glacial sediment complexes, especially in front of the Bohemian Forest glacial lakes and the detection of an infilled lake as an important source of palaeoclimatic proxies. The importance of gravitational processes (e.g. rotational shear surface) for the morphology of the cirque wall above the Stará Jímka was proved. Probable older glacial sediments overlain by slope sediments were detected in front of Prášilské Lake. Geophysical research detected at least three probable glacial phases (stadials) in the glacial sediment complex in front of Laka lake. A potential infilled glacial lake was identified in the Großer Schwarzbach cirque on the Bavarian side of the Bohemian Forest. Although the findings do not provide clear evidence of the problems or their solutions, they provide indications confirming the data resulting from the geomorphological analysis. At the same time, they serve as a stimulus and guide for further research.