Submarine evidence of the Aavatsmark and Dahl Glaciers fluctuations in the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

• Main Authors: Marek Grześ, Michał Król, Ireneusz Sobota
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: the Little Ice Age (LIA). Key words; Arctic; Svalbard; glacier; push−moraines; Kaffiøyra; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.594.8939; http://www.polish.polar.pan.pl/ppr30/PPR30-143.pdf

Abstract: Although the terrestrial marginal zones of some glaciers on Spitsbergen are rela− tively well described, we are largely ignorant about the morphology of their submarine forefields. Initial reconnaissance of the forefields of the Aavatsmark and Dahl glaciers in the Kaffiøyra region and soundings made in that of the Hans Glacier (southern Spitsbergen) indicate the occurrence of sea−floor push−moraines which can be as much as 3 m high. Their lateral separation is considered to denote annual recession rates. They appear to result from cyclical annual advances of ice−cliffs during winters when the deposits are risen up at the contact of the ice with the sea−floor. The development of the major forms may be related to surge. There is some evidence that certain elements in the sea−bed morphology date from