Holocene landscape evolution of a nivation hollow on Gassan volcano, northern Japan

This paper describes the results of detailed surveys for the landscape systems (landforms, vegetation, topsoils and snow cover duration) of a nivation hollow in northern Japan and discusses their evolution in the Holocene epoch. The nivation hollow studied consists of three concentric zones whose landscapes and historical development are different. The outermost zone where snow disappears early is covered with dwarfed trees, Sasa kurilensis (subalpine bamboo) thicket and snowbed grasses. Fossil solifluction lobes and drainage channels are common. In this zone, slope stabilization and vegetation establishment (penetration and settlement of vegetation on slopes) followed by pedogenesis occurred after 12,350 cal BP. In the middle zone, slopes are mostly covered with snowbed plants, and turf-banked terraces and minor slumps are observed. This zone experienced slope stabilization and vegetation establishment followed by pedogenesis after 4870 cal BP. The innermost zone overlaps with the snow-induced bare ground in the centre of the nivation hollow basin. Active geomorphic processes operate here and traces of surficial wash and rills are abundant. Humic soils are not present in this zone. These differences in landscape development of the nivation hollow may reflect the temporal changes in the timings of snow disappearance associated with the Holocene climatic variabilities.