Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula
The distribution of glacial cirques upon the Kamchatka peninsula, Far Eastern Russia, is systematically mapped from satellite images and digital elevation model data. A total of 3,758 cirques are identified, 238 of which are occupied by active glaciers. The morphometry of the remaining 3,520 cirques...
Published in: | Geomorphology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2013
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/palaeoglacial-and-palaeoclimatic-conditions-in-the-nw-pacific-as-revealed-by-a-morphometric-analysis-of-cirques-upon-the-kamchatka-peninsula(6f61e92d-f3cb-4ed6-997d-cfbee4763c4b).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.011 |
id |
ftqueensubelpubl:oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:publications/6f61e92d-f3cb-4ed6-997d-cfbee4763c4b |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftqueensubelpubl:oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:publications/6f61e92d-f3cb-4ed6-997d-cfbee4763c4b 2023-05-15T16:22:04+02:00 Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula Barr, Iestyn D. Spagnolo, Matteo 2013-06-15 https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/palaeoglacial-and-palaeoclimatic-conditions-in-the-nw-pacific-as-revealed-by-a-morphometric-analysis-of-cirques-upon-the-kamchatka-peninsula(6f61e92d-f3cb-4ed6-997d-cfbee4763c4b).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.011 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Barr , I D & Spagnolo , M 2013 , ' Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula ' , Geomorphology , vol. 192 , no. null , pp. 15-29 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.011 /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1904 Earth-Surface Processes article 2013 ftqueensubelpubl https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.011 2022-02-09T22:08:34Z The distribution of glacial cirques upon the Kamchatka peninsula, Far Eastern Russia, is systematically mapped from satellite images and digital elevation model data. A total of 3,758 cirques are identified, 238 of which are occupied by active glaciers. The morphometry of the remaining 3,520 cirques is analysed. These cirques are found to show a very strong N bias in their azimuth (orientation), likely resulting from aspect-related variations in insolation. The strength of this N bias is considered to indicate that former glaciation upon the peninsula was often ‘marginal’, and mainly of cirque-type, with peaks extending little above regional equilibrium-line altitudes. This is supported by the fact that S and SE-facing cirques are the highest in the dataset, suggesting that glacier-cover was rarely sufficient to allow S and SE-facing glaciers to develop at low altitudes. The strength of these azimuth-related variations in cirque altitude is thought to reflect comparatively cloud-free conditions during former periods of glaciation. It is suggested that these characteristics, of marginal glaciation and comparatively cloud-free conditions, reflect the region’s former aridity, which was likely intensified at the global Last Glacial Maximum, and during earlier periods of ice advance, as a result of the development of negative pressure anomalies over the North Pacific (driven by the growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet), combined with other factors, including an increase in the extent and duration of sea ice, a reduction in global sea levels, cooler sea surface temperatures, and the localised growth of mountain glaciers. There is published evidence to suggest extensive glaciation of the Kamchatka Peninsula at times during the Late Quaternary, yet the data presented here appears to suggest that such phases were comparatively short-lived, and that smaller cirque-type glaciers were generally more characteristic of the period. Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier Ice Sheet Kamchatka Kamchatka Peninsula Sea ice Queen's University Belfast Research Portal Kamchatka Peninsula ENVELOPE(160.000,160.000,56.000,56.000) Pacific Geomorphology 192 15 29 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Queen's University Belfast Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftqueensubelpubl |
language |
English |
topic |
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1904 Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1904 Earth-Surface Processes Barr, Iestyn D. Spagnolo, Matteo Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula |
topic_facet |
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1904 Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
The distribution of glacial cirques upon the Kamchatka peninsula, Far Eastern Russia, is systematically mapped from satellite images and digital elevation model data. A total of 3,758 cirques are identified, 238 of which are occupied by active glaciers. The morphometry of the remaining 3,520 cirques is analysed. These cirques are found to show a very strong N bias in their azimuth (orientation), likely resulting from aspect-related variations in insolation. The strength of this N bias is considered to indicate that former glaciation upon the peninsula was often ‘marginal’, and mainly of cirque-type, with peaks extending little above regional equilibrium-line altitudes. This is supported by the fact that S and SE-facing cirques are the highest in the dataset, suggesting that glacier-cover was rarely sufficient to allow S and SE-facing glaciers to develop at low altitudes. The strength of these azimuth-related variations in cirque altitude is thought to reflect comparatively cloud-free conditions during former periods of glaciation. It is suggested that these characteristics, of marginal glaciation and comparatively cloud-free conditions, reflect the region’s former aridity, which was likely intensified at the global Last Glacial Maximum, and during earlier periods of ice advance, as a result of the development of negative pressure anomalies over the North Pacific (driven by the growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet), combined with other factors, including an increase in the extent and duration of sea ice, a reduction in global sea levels, cooler sea surface temperatures, and the localised growth of mountain glaciers. There is published evidence to suggest extensive glaciation of the Kamchatka Peninsula at times during the Late Quaternary, yet the data presented here appears to suggest that such phases were comparatively short-lived, and that smaller cirque-type glaciers were generally more characteristic of the period. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Barr, Iestyn D. Spagnolo, Matteo |
author_facet |
Barr, Iestyn D. Spagnolo, Matteo |
author_sort |
Barr, Iestyn D. |
title |
Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula |
title_short |
Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula |
title_full |
Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula |
title_fullStr |
Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula |
title_full_unstemmed |
Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula |
title_sort |
palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the nw pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the kamchatka peninsula |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/palaeoglacial-and-palaeoclimatic-conditions-in-the-nw-pacific-as-revealed-by-a-morphometric-analysis-of-cirques-upon-the-kamchatka-peninsula(6f61e92d-f3cb-4ed6-997d-cfbee4763c4b).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.011 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(160.000,160.000,56.000,56.000) |
geographic |
Kamchatka Peninsula Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Kamchatka Peninsula Pacific |
genre |
glacier Ice Sheet Kamchatka Kamchatka Peninsula Sea ice |
genre_facet |
glacier Ice Sheet Kamchatka Kamchatka Peninsula Sea ice |
op_source |
Barr , I D & Spagnolo , M 2013 , ' Palaeoglacial and palaeoclimatic conditions in the NW Pacific, as revealed by a morphometric analysis of cirques upon the Kamchatka Peninsula ' , Geomorphology , vol. 192 , no. null , pp. 15-29 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.011 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.03.011 |
container_title |
Geomorphology |
container_volume |
192 |
container_start_page |
15 |
op_container_end_page |
29 |
_version_ |
1766010025302556672 |