The recent moraines of the Lyell and Ramsay Glaciers Rakaia Valley, Canterbury

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Abstract
Lichenometric dating and records in the form of maps, drawings and photographs are used to construct a chronology of glacial activity in the last few centuries. Advances of the Lyell glacier which gave rise to the Whitcombe set of moraines occurred in the 17th century, 1740, 1830, 1850–60, and 1880–90 A.D. Smaller advances or halts in recession occurred in 1910 and about 1930 A.D. The Ramsay Glacier was in an advanced position in 1865 and about 1890 A.D., but only a few small, undated moraine fragments survive from other advances. No absolute dates are available for older moraines, the Lyell set, which are best represented near the Lyell Glacier. The vegetation sequence on the moraines of the Lyell glacier is described. Scattered herbaceous vegetation occurs on moraines formed in 20th and 19th centuries and an open scrub community occurs on moraines formed about 200 years ago. The cover is denser on 300-year-old moraines. All the moraines of the Lyell set have a close cover of relatively tall scrub.

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