Abstract:
Whether Quaternary glaciation exists in the middle and low mountains of eastern China has been debated for a century. Because glacial landforms are formed by glaciation, further studying on the mountain glacial erosion relics and analyzing on the evolution of geomorphology are significant to identify the existence of glaciation. The satellite remote sensing with a large overlook view breaks the limitation of observation the mountain geomorphology from the ground in the past, and provides the condition to study the structure of glacial erosion geomorphology. Modern glaciers are widespread in the Himalayas with the clear and typical glacial erosion landforms that provide a basis for us to study the ice cirque system. Meanwhile, according to the erosion direction of ice cirque, we distinguish three fundamental combinations such as the symmetrical erosion triangle ridge chains, oblique erosion triangle ridge chains and following erosion triangle ridge chains. Glacial erosion triangle chains are the structural relics of glaciation. Comparative analysis of the mountain landforms in the middle and low mountains of eastern China using the triangle ridge theory, we found glacial erosion triangle ridge chains are widespread in that areas, which proves Quaternary glaciation existing in the eastern China.