Unveiling Taiwan's hidden glacial past.

Taiwan is better known for its frequent typhoons and active tectonics than for ice (except maybe Mango shaved-ice!). Yet, high up in its central mountains, the story of ancient glaciers is written into the landscape — if you know how to read it. Here is a fascinating conversation tracking the elusive traces of glaciation in one of the world’s most active mountain belts.

This conversation has been AI-generated.

Scientific evidence reveals that Taiwan's higher elevations, particularly above 3,000 meters, were once shaped by colossal forces of ice. These glaciers left behind telltale signs like U-shaped valleys, moraines, and striated bedrock—classic glacial landforms that paint a vivid picture of an icy past.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this story is the role of geothermal heat. In geologically active regions like Taiwan, this underground warmth can significantly influence glacier movement and melting. Studies indicate that this heat creates a thin layer of meltwater at the base of glaciers, allowing them to slide more easily and potentially accelerating erosion.

Dating these ancient glacial events has been made possible through sophisticated techniques like cosmogenic nuclide dating, particularly using beryllium-10. This method acts like a cosmic clock, helping scientists pinpoint when the ice retreated and offering crucial insights into past climate conditions.

The sources suggest that Taiwan's glaciers underwent major retreat phases around 11,000 years ago, likely driven by shifts in the Asian monsoon system. This evidence not only sheds light on Taiwan's geological history but also contributes to our broader understanding of how climate influences glacial erosion worldwide.

As our climate continues to change, the story of Taiwan's glacial past raises thought-provoking questions about how high mountain landscapes will respond and be reshaped in the future. The answers lie in the ongoing detective work of scientists, unraveling the complex interplay between climate and geology.

Taiwan's surprising glacial history serves as a reminder that our landscapes are not static but dynamic systems, constantly evolving in response to the forces of nature.


Two glacial valleys at the top of Taiwan's Central Range radiating from a formerly ice-covered plateau (Nanhutashan, June 2015).


Suggested reading:

Benn et al. (2005) doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2005.02.003 - Bradley et al. (2009) doi:10.1029/2009GL037712 - Carcaillet et al. (2017) doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2007.00756.x - Cunningham et al. (2019) doi : 10.5194/esurf-7-147-2019 - Ganti et al. (2016) Sci. Adv. 2, e1600204 - Hebenstreit et al (2011) doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.11.002 - Hebenstreit et al. (2025) doi: 10.1002/jqs.3714 - Lai and Anders (2021) doi: 10.5194/esurf-9-845-2021 - Lai and Huppert (2024) doi: 10.1029/2024GL109087 - Owen and Benn (2005) doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2005.02.006 - Siame et al. (2007) doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2007.04.016

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