Radiometric Chronology of Neh–nar Glacier, Kashmir

Surface and core samples of Neh–nar Glacier in the Kashmir Valley have been analysed for the radionuclides 32Si. 210Pb, 40K, and 137Cs. The lateral and vertical profiles (at an altitude of about 4 140 m) reveal:(1)32Si activity decreasing slowly from the accumulation zone to 4 050 m altitude and then abruptly towards the snout.(2)Five zones of alternating high and low 210Pb activity in the surface samples.(3)An horizon at between 2 and 3 m depth containing 210Pb activity above natural levels. This horizon is also associated with 137Cs and a maximum in total ß activity.The ice samples have been dated on the basis of a simplified two–component model, the “fresh“contribution determined by 2l0Pb and the old component by 32Si. The following conclusions can be drawn from these observations:(1)The model age of the snout ice is c. 850 years.(2)The average rate of ice movement in the lower glacier is about 2 m/year, which compares well with the annual movement rate of 2.65 m/year observed since 1974.