Evaluating the schmidt hammer as a method for distinguishing the relative age of late holocene moraines: svellnosbreen, jotunheimen, norway

In this study we used the chmidt hammer to assess the relative exposure ages of previously dated ittle ce ge moraines deposited by vellnosbreen glacier in otunheimen southern orway. chmidt hammer measurements were taken on moraine surfaces which have been deglaciated for 79–259 years since the ittle ce ge, to reconstruct and date previous snout positions. Dating used a typical linear ittle ce ge age‐calibration curve and the ages of unknown surfaces were predicted based on chmidt hammer measurements with the support of lichenometric dates. Calibrated ages exhibited potential dating errors of ±63–103 years, which were estimated using 95% confidence intervals associated with two control points based on moraines of known ages. chmidt hammer R‐value variability was identified and sources of significant errors were attributed to variations in boulder surface texture and the incorporation of weathered boulders into moraines through push mechanisms and paraglacial reworking.