Characterization of Sediment and Sedimentary Processes by Thermoluminescence Level in the Fjord and Shelf Environment of Western Spitsbergen, Svalbard

• Main Author: Forman, Steven L.
• Other Authors: COLORADO UNIV AT BOULDER INST OF ARCTIC AND ALPINE RESEARCH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1988
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Optics; *THERMOLUMINESCENCE; *GLACIAL DEPOSITS; *SEDIMENTATION; EXPOSURE(GENERAL); LIGHT; RATES; DEPTH; DEPOSITION; SHALLOW WATER; SIGNALS; RANGE(DISTANCE); HIGH LATITUDES; SEA WATER; OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS; SEDIMENTS; SILICATES; OCEAN BOTTOM; GLACIERS; MUD; LAND ICE; FJORDS; GRANULES; ARCTIC OCEAN ISLANDS; TIME DEPENDENCE; COASTAL REGIONS; CONTROL; SOURCES; GLACIAL TILLS; ICE SHELVES; SVALBARD; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Svalbard; glacier; Ice; Ice Shelf; Ice Shelves; permafrost; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA202466; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA202466

This study explored the relationship between high Arctic depositional environments and the natural thermoluminescence (TL) signal of sediments. The energy and duration of light exposure during deposition controls the TL level of silicate mineral grains in the sediment. The results indicate that the TL signal of sediments is proportional to the distance from glacier sediment source and water depth in the littoral/sublittoral zone. The highest TL levels are from tills or ice-shelf sediments, which receive little or no light exposure with deposition. Intermediate TL levels are associated with ice-proximal environments; lower and consistent TL levels are recorded for glacial-marine muds collected from fiord and shelf areas. The TL of sediments decreases away from the glacier sediment source because of longer light exposure with slower rates of deposition. The lowest TL levels are for littoral and sublittoral sediments which receive extended light exposure with shoaling. The relative TL signal of sediments is a new tool for deciphering the source of sediment, particulary in environments proximal to a glacier terminus and in shallow water, less than 15 m deep. Keywords: Glacial and marine sediments; Arctic Ocean islands; Glacial deposits.