Glacial geomorphological research on the Demirkapı Mountain (Trabzon)

During the Quaternary climate oscillations in global and regional scale have been led to the cold environment. This case have caused the formation of thick ice sheets at high latitudes. Latitude effect has restricted to this situation at low latitudes, and glaciation has showed itself as circus, the valley, the skullcap at mild and high areas. In this study, Demirkapı Mountain, which is located in the Eastern Black Sea Mountains on the Western extension of the Soğanlı range, was examined. Demirkapı Mountain with its 3300 metric summits is one of the glaciated areas in the Late Pleistocene. The glaciation has caused the formation of unique morphologic elements on the topography such as glacial valleys, pyramidal peaks, polished and scratched surfaces and moraine deposits. In the study, glacial geomorphology of five valleys was investigated. These are, from east to west respectively, the Demirkapi glacial valley, the Multat glacial valley, and the Karakaya glacial valley. Furthermore, proofs about ongoing periglacial processes has been gathered and interpreted. In this context, two rock glaciers were identified in the study area. The findings in the field was synthesized by using Geographic Information Systems. With the solar analysis performed on the field impacts of aspect factor on glaciation and glacial geomorphology was revealed. Finally, the volume of paleo-glaciers have been calculated by using the geographical information systems and remote sensing technologies. Key Words: Demirkapı Mountain, Glaciation, GIS, East Anatolian Mountains, Turkey.