Reconstruction of Quaternary Snow line in Bidkhan Mountain (Kerman province)

Bidkhan Mountain that located in arid and semiarid climate in southeastern part of the central Iranian volcanic belt has several congenital features without any comprehensive study on it. Glacial processes were effective in changing Bidkhan mountain morphology. Here we seek the reduce rate of temperature and snow line in the last glacial period in this region. To obtain necessary data topographic maps of 1:25000, Aerial photos: 1:55000 and 1:20000 and monthly temperature data of Sirjan and Bardsir synoptic stations also Arc GIS9.3 software and field survey were used. Cirque and valley glaciers are the most important evidence of climate change in study area. Based on Topographic maps, aerial photos and field survey, 32 cirques were recognized in the study area. Also, snowline determination was carried out using Peltier and Wright methods. According to the results, snowline was located at altitude 3166.63 meter with Peltier and altitude 3100-3200 with Wright method. These methods are similar in study area. Current snowline is determined using temperature at 5500 meter. Results show in last glacier period, tempreture was lower about 9 and 11 Celsius in apron and high area respectively.