Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T23:09:00.581Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Basal processes beneath an Arctic glacier and their geomorphic imprint after a surge, Elisebreen, Svalbard

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Poul Christoffersen ,
Jan A. Piotrowski  and
Nicolaj K. Larsen
Poul Christoffersen*
Affiliation:
Centre for Glaciology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3DB, UK
Jan A. Piotrowski
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, C.F. Møllers Allé 120, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
Nicolaj K. Larsen
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, C.F. Møllers Allé 120, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail addresses:[email protected] (P. Christoffersen) [email protected] (J.A. Piotrowski)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The foreground of Elisebreen, a retreating valley glacier in West Svalbard, exhibits a well-preserved assemblage of subglacial landforms including ice-flow parallel ridges (flutings), ice-flow oblique ridges (crevasse-fill features), and meandering ridges (infill of basal meltwater conduits). Other landforms are thrust-block moraine, hummocky terrain, and drumlinoid hills. We argue in agreement with geomorphological models that this landform assemblage was generated by ice-flow instability, possibly a surge, which took place in the past when the ice was thicker and the bed warmer. The surge likely occurred due to elevated pore-water pressure in a thin layer of thawed and water-saturated till that separated glacier ice from a frozen substratum. Termination may have been caused by a combination of water drainage and loss of lubricating sediment. Sedimentological investigations indicate that key landforms may be formed by weak till oozing into basal cavities and crevasses, opening in response to accelerated ice flow, and into water conduits abandoned during rearrangement of the basal water system. Today, Elisebreen may no longer have surge potential due to its diminished size. The ability to identify ice-flow instability from geomorphological criteria is important in deglaciated terrain as well as in regions where ice dynamics are adapting to climate change.

Keywords

TillSubglacial processesFlutingsSurgeSvalbardLandforms
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 64 , Issue 2 , September 2005 , pp. 125 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ACIA (2004). Impact of a Warming Arctic: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 144 Google Scholar
Benn, D.I. (1994). Fluted moraine formation and till genesis below a temperate glacier: Slettmarkbreen, Jotunheimen, Norway. Sedimentology 41, 279–292. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benn, D.I. Evans, D.J.A. (1998). Glaciers and Glaciation. Arnold, London. 734 Google Scholar
Bennett, M.R. Hambrey, M.J. Huddart, D. Glasser, N.F. Crawford, K. (1999). The landform and sediment assemblage produced by a tidewater glacier surge in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Quaternary Science Reviews 18, 1213–1246. Google Scholar
Bennett, M.R. Huddart, D. Waller, R.I. (2000). Glaciofluvial crevasse and conduit fills as indicators of supraglacial dewatering during a surge, Skeidararjokull, Iceland. Journal of Glaciology 46, 25–34. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boulton, G.S. (1972). Modern Arctic glaciers as depositional models for former ice sheets. Journal of Geological Society 128, 361–393. Google Scholar
Clark, C.D. Tulaczyk, S. Stokes, C.R. Canals, M. (2003). A groove-ploughing theory for the production of mega-scale glacial lineations, and implications for ice stream mechanics. Journal of Glaciology 49, 240–256. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, G.K.C. (1987). Fast glacier flow: ice streams, surging, and tidewater glaciers. Journal of Geophysical Research 92, 8835–8841. Google Scholar
Clarke, G.K.C. Collins, S.G. Thomson, D.E. (1984). Flow, thermal structure, and subglacial conditions of a surge-type glacier. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 21, 232–240. Google Scholar
Eklund, A. Hart, J.K. (1996). Glaciotectonic deformation within a flute from Isfallsglaciären, Sweden. Journal of Quaternary Science 11, 299–310. 3.0.CO;2-C>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Engelhardt, H. Kamb, B. (1997). Basal hydraulic system of a West Antarctic ice stream: constraints from borehole observations. Journal of Glaciology 43, 207–230. Google Scholar
Engelhardt, H. Kamb, B. (1998). Basal sliding of Ice Stream B, West Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology 44, 223–230. Google Scholar
Ensminger, S.L. Alley, R.B. Evenson, E.B. Lawson, D.E. Larson, G.J. (2001). Basal-crevasse-fill origin of laminated debris bands at Matanuska Glacier, Alaska, USA. Journal of Glaciology 47, 414–422. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, D.J.A. Rea, B.R. (1999). Geomorphology and sedimentology of surging glaciers: a land-systems approach. Annals of Glaciology 28, 75–82. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, D.J.A. Twigg, D.R. (2002). The active temperate glacial landsystem: a model based on Breidamerkurjokull and Fjallsjokull, Iceland. Quaternary Science Reviews 21, 2143–2177. Google Scholar
Fisher, U.H. Clarke, G.K.C. Blatter, H. (1999). Evidence for temporarily varying “sticky spots” at the base of Trapridge Glacier, Yukon Territory, Canada. Journal of Glaciology 45, 352–360. Google Scholar
Forman, S.L. (1989). Late Weichselian glaciation and deglaciation of Forlandsundet area, Western Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Boreas 18, 51–60. Google Scholar
Fowler, A.C. Murray, T. Ng, F.S.L. (2001). Thermally controlled glacier surging. Journal of Glaciology 47, 527–538. Google Scholar
Fuller, S. Murray, F. (2000). Evidence against pervasive bed deformation during the surge of an Icelandic glacier. Maltman, A.J. Hubbard, B. Hambrey, M.J. Deformation of Glacial Materials Geological Society Special Publication vol. 176, The Geological Society, London. 203–216. Google Scholar
Fuller, S. Murray, T. (2002). Sedimentological investigations in the forefield of an Icelandic surge-type glacier: implications for the surge mechanism. Quaternary Science Reviews 21, 1503–1520. Google Scholar
Glasser, N.F. Hambrey, M.J. Crawford, K.R. Bennett, M.R. Huddart, D. (1998a). The structural glaciology of Kongsvegen, Svalbard, and its role in landform genesis. Journal of Glaciology 44, 136–148. Google Scholar
Glasser, N.F. Huddart, D. Bennett, M.R. (1998b). Ice-marginal characteristics of Fridtjovbreen (Svalbard) during its recent surge. Polar Research 17, 93–100. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, J.E. Whalley, W.B. Gellatly, A.F. Vere, D.M. (1992). The formation of glacial flutes: assessment of models with evidence from Lyngsdalen, North Norway. Quaternary Science Reviews 11, 709–731. Google Scholar
Grzes, M. Lankauf, K.R. (1997). Some Selected Problems of Naledi on the Glacier Forefields of KaffiØyra (NW Spitsbergen). Polar Session UMCS, Lublin. 93–95. Google Scholar
Hagen, J.O. Kohler, J. Melvold, K. Winther, J.G. (2003). Glaciers in Svalbard: mass balance, runoff and freshwater flux. Polar Research 22, 145–159. Google Scholar
Hambrey, M.J. Huddart, D. Bennett, M.R. Glasser, N.F. (1997). Genesis of ‘hummocky moraines’ by thrusting in glacier ice: evidence from Svalbard and Britain. Journal of the Geological Society 154, 623–632. Google Scholar
Hambrey, M.J. Bennett, M.R. Dowdeswell, J.A. Glasser, N.F. Huddart, D. (1999). Debris entrainment and transfer in polythermal valley glaciers. Journal of Glaciology 45, 69–86. Google Scholar
Hambrey, M.J. Murray, T. Glasser, N.F. Hubbard, A. Hubbard, B. Stuart, G. Hansen, S. Kohler, J. (2005). Structure and changing dynamics of a polythermal valley glacier on a centennial timescale: Midrelovenbreen, Svalbard. Journal of Geophysical Research 110, F01006 10.1029/2004JF000128CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hansen, S. (2003). From surge-type to non-surge-type glacier behaviour: midre Lovenbreen, Svalbard. Annals of Glaciology 36, 97–102. Google Scholar
Hart, J.K. (1999). Identifying fast ice flow from landform assemblages in the geological record: a discussion. Annals of Glaciology 28, 59–66. Google Scholar
Hart, J.K. Smith, B. (1997). Subglacial deformation associated with fast ice flow, from the Columbia Glaciaer, Alaska. Sedimentary Geology 111, 177–198. Google Scholar
Hjelle, A. (1993). Geology of Svalbard. Norsk Polarinstitutt, Oslo.162 pp.Google Scholar
Jiskoot, H. Boyle, P. Murray, T. (1998). The incidence of glacier surging in Svalbard: evidence from multivariate statistics. Computer Geosciences 24, 387–399. Google Scholar
Jiskoot, H. Murray, T. Boyle, P. (2000). Controls on the distribution of surge-type glaciers in Svalbard. Journal of Glaciology 46, 412–422. Google Scholar
Kamb, B. (1987). Glacier surge mechanism based on linked cavity configuration of the basal water conduit system. Journal of Geophysical Research 92, B9 9083–9100. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kamb, B. (1991). Rheological nonlinearity and flow instability in the deforming bed mechanism of ice stream motion. Journal of Geophysical Research 96, B10 16585–16595. Google Scholar
Kamb, B. Raymond, C.F. Harrison, W.D. Engelhardt, H. Echelmeyer, K.A. Humphrey, N. Brugman, M.M. Pfeffer, T. (1985). Glacier surge mechanism–1982–1983 surge of Variegated Glacier, Alaska. Science 227, 469–479. Google Scholar
Kavenaugh, J.L. Clarke, G.K.C. (2000). Evidence for extreme pressure pulses in the basal water system. Journal of Glaciology 46, 206–212. Google Scholar
Kavenaugh, J.L. Clarke, G.K.C. (2001). Abrupt glacier motion and reorganization of basal shear stress following the establishment of a connected water system. Journal of Glaciology 47, 472–480. Google Scholar
Lankauf, K.R. (2002). The retreat of the glaciers in the KaffiØyra region (Oscar II Land-Spitsbergen) in the 20th century. Geographical Studies 183, (221 pp.)Google Scholar
Lingle, C.S. Fatland, D.R. (2003). Does englacial water storage drive temperate glacier surges?. Annals of Glaciology 36, 14–20. Google Scholar
Marciniak, K. Marszelewski, W. (1991). Selected hydrological aspects of Elisebreen (NW Spitsbergen). Acta Univ. N. Copernici, Geografia XXII, 125–161. Google Scholar
Mark, D.M. (1973). Analysis of axial orientation data, including till fabrics. Geological Society of America Bulletin 84, 1369–1374. Google Scholar
Meier, M.F. Post, A. (1969). What are glacier surges. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 6, 807–817. Google Scholar
Mitchell, J.K. (1993). Fundamentals of soil behavior. John Wiley, New York. Google Scholar
Murray, T. Porter, P.R. (2001). Basal conditions beneath a soft-bedded polythermal surge-type glacier: Bakaninbreen, Svalbard. Quaternary International 86, 103–116. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, T. Dowdeswell, J.A. Drewry, D.J. Frearson, I. (1998). Geometric evolution and ice dynamics during a surge of Bakaninbreen, Svalbard. Journal of Glaciology 44, 263–272. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, T. Stuart, G.W. Miller, P.J. Woodward, J. Smith, A.M. Porter, P.R. Jiskoot, H. (2000). Glacier surge propagation by thermal evolution at the bed. Journal of Geophysical Research 105, B6 13491–13507. Google Scholar
Murray, T. Strozzi, T. Luckman, A. Jiskoot, H. Christakos, P. (2003). Is there a single surge mechanism? Contrasts in dynamics between glacier surges in Svalbard and other regions. Journal of Geophysical Research 108, B5 2237 10.1029/2002JB001906CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Niewiarowski, W. Pazdur, M.F. Sinkiewicz, M. (1993). Glacial and marine episodes in KaffiØyra, northwestern Spitsbergen, during the Vistulian and the Holocene. Polish Polar Research 14, 21–34. Google Scholar
Olszewski, A. (1977). Geomorphological investigations of the marginal zone of Elise Glacier. Acta Univ. N. Copernici, Geografia XXIII, 67–74. Google Scholar
Porter, P.R. Murray, T. (2001). Mechanical and hydraulic properties of till beneath Bakaninbreen, Svalbard. Journal of Glaciology 47, 167–175. Google Scholar
Rose, J. (1989). Glacier stress patterns and sediment transfer associated with the formation of superimposed flutes. Sedimentary Geology 62, 151–176. Google Scholar
Sharp, M. (1985). “Crevasse-fill” ridges–A landform type characteristic of surging glaciers?. Geografiska Annaler 67A, 213–220. Google Scholar
Smith, A.M. Murray, T. Davison, B.M. Clough, A.F. Woodward, J. Jiskoot, H. (2002). Late surge glacial conditions on Bakaninbreen, Svalbard, and implications for surge termination. Journal of Geophysical Research 107, B8 2152 10.1029/2001JB000475Google Scholar
Stokes, C.R. Clark, C.D. (2001). Palaeo-ice streams. Quaternary Science Reviews 20, 1437–1457. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stokes, C.R. Clark, C.D. (2002). Are long subglacial bedforms indicative of fast ice flow?. Boreas 31, 239–249. Google Scholar
Tulaczyk, S. Kamb, B. Scherer, R.P. Engelhardt, H.F. (1998). Sedimentary processes at the base of a West Antarctic ice stream: constraints from textural and compositional properties of subglacial debris. Journal of Sedimentary Research 68, 487–496. Google Scholar
Tulaczyk, S. Kamb, B. Engelhardt, H.F. (2000). Basal mechanics of Ice Stream B, West Antarctica: 1. Till mechanics. Journal of Geophysical Research 105, B1 463–481. Google Scholar
van der Veen, C.J. (1998). Fracture mechanics approach to penetration of bottom crevasses on glaciers. Cold Regions Science and Technology 27, 213–223. Google Scholar
Weertman, J. (1980). Bottom crevasses. Journal of Glaciology 25, 185–188. Google Scholar
Woodward, J. Murray, T. McCraig, A. (2002). Formation and reorientation of structure in the surge-type glacier Kongsvegen, Svalbard. Journal of Quaternary Science 17, 201–209. Google Scholar
Zapolski, R. (1977). Marginal zone of Elisebreen. Acta Univ. N. Copernici, Geografia XII, 21–37. Google Scholar