CHANGES IN GEOMORPHIC ENVIRONMENTS IN CANTERBURY DURING THE ARANUIAN

Changes in landforms in Canterbury consequent on the change from glacial to non-glacial conditions during the Aranuian are examined. Landform evidence may supplement that provided in the vegetation record and suggest that the montane environments of Canterbury were more sensitive to climate change than the lower, including coastal, environments. On the whole, however, it appears that landforms record only the broad change from glacial environments to those of the present. Alternations of erosion and deposition in any given valley may reflect a variety of causes, including seismic events, fire, and intense local storms, as well as longer term and regional climate change. It is concluded that the vegetation record will provide a more sensitive and detailed record of climatic variation than will the geomorphological record.