Skaftafellsjökull, Iceland: glacial geomorphology recording glacier recession since the Little Ice Age
A 1:5700 scale map of the recently deglaciated foreland of Skaftafellsjökull, Iceland as it appeared in 2007, depicts a typical active temperate glacial landsystem with a clear pattern of sequentially changing push moraine morphologies, including remarkable hairpin-shaped moraines, indicative of spa...
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | Text |
Language: | unknown |
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Taylor & Francis
2017
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Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4924388 https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Skaftafellsj_kull_Iceland_glacial_geomorphology_recording_glacier_recession_since_the_Little_Ice_Age/4924388/1 |
Summary: | A 1:5700 scale map of the recently deglaciated foreland of Skaftafellsjökull, Iceland as it appeared in 2007, depicts a typical active temperate glacial landsystem with a clear pattern of sequentially changing push moraine morphologies, including remarkable hairpin-shaped moraines, indicative of spatial and temporal variability in process-form regimes in glacier sub-marginal settings. Similar to other Icelandic glacier forelands, this demonstrates that the piedmont glacier lobes of the region have developed strong longitudinal crevassing and well-developed ice-marginal pecten during their historical recession from the Little Ice Age maximum moraines, likely driven by extending ice flow and poorly drained sub-marginal conditions typical of the uncovering of overdeepenings. Additionally, the localized development of a linear tract of kame and kettle topography is interpreted as the geomorphic and sedimentary signature of thrust stacked and gradually melting debris-rich glacier ice, a feature hitherto unrecognized in the Icelandic active temperate lobe landsystem signature. |
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