Swift, D.A. orcid.org/0000-0001-5320-5104, Cook, S.J., Graham, D.J. et al. (5 more authors) (2018) Terminal zone glacial sediment transfer at a temperate overdeepened glacier system. Quaternary Science Reviews, 180. pp. 111-131. ISSN 0277-3791
Abstract
Continuity of sediment transfer through glacial systems is essential to maintain subglacial bedrock erosion, yet transfer at temperate glaciers with overdeepened beds, where subglacial fluvial sediment transport should be greatly limited by adverse slopes, remains poorly understood. Complex multiple transfer processes in temperate overdeepened systems has been indicated by the presence of large frontal moraine systems, supraglacial debris of mixed transport origin, thick basal ice sequences, and englacial thrusts and eskers. At Svínafellsjökull, thrusts comprising decimetre-thick debris-rich bands of stratified facies ice of basal origin, with a coarser size distribution and higher clast content than that observed in basal ice layers, contribute substantially to the transfer of subglacial material in the terminal zone. Entrainment and transfer of material occurs by simple shear along the upper surface of bands and by straininduced deformation of stratified and firnified glacier ice below. Thrust material includes rounded and well-rounded clasts that are also striated, indicating that fluvial bedload is deposited as subglacial channels approach the overdeepening and then entrained along thrusts. Substantial transfer also occurs within basal ice, with facies type and debris content dependent on the hydrological connectedness of the adverse slope. A process model of transfer at glaciers with terminal overdeepenings is proposed, in which the geometry of the overdeepening influences spatial patterns of ice deformation, hydrology, and basal ice formation. We conclude that the significance of thrusting in maintaining sediment transfer continuity has likely been overlooked by glacier sediment budgets and glacial landscape evolution studies.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Present; Quaternary; Glaciation; Glaciology; Europe; Geomorphology, glacial; Sediment Transport; Glacial Erosion; Glacial Hydrology |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Geography (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY SRG20.12 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 22 Nov 2017 15:51 |
Last Modified: | 30 Oct 2018 11:49 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.11.027 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.11.027 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:124385 |