Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica
Rock glaciers are landforms that present downslope movement of debris under the influence of ice and gravity. These landforms can be used as paleo-climate indicators as well as proxies for climate change. Rock glaciers have been investigated in a variety of climates and landscapes, however continent...
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ftrhodesunivcory:vital:20314 2023-05-15T13:49:37+02:00 Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena 2016 70 leaves pdf http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2667 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:20314 English eng Rhodes University Faculty of Science, Geography http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2667 vital:20314 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:20314 Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena Thesis Masters MSc 2016 ftrhodesunivcory 2022-12-26T10:56:09Z Rock glaciers are landforms that present downslope movement of debris under the influence of ice and gravity. These landforms can be used as paleo-climate indicators as well as proxies for climate change. Rock glaciers have been investigated in a variety of climates and landscapes, however continental Antarctica, Dronning Maud Land specifically, remains understudied. This thesis aimed to investigate and classify five rock glaciers observed in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land. The surface characteristics and geomorphology were assessed and used as generic classifiers. Size, shape and landscape association was established by field surveying and GIS, whilst sediment and clast characteristics were determined from sampling. A surface temperature profile was created from short-term high frequency temperature measurements. All of the rock glaciers exhibit either undulating surfaces or patterned ground, or both, which suggests active-layer related processes. Sediment particle size analysis is inconclusive. The 137Cs-content and fabric analysis suggest movement regimes similar to other rock glaciers with higher activity at the head, and variable movement directions at the toe. Relative “activeness” is inferred from morphology: Grjotlia, Grjotøyra and Vassdalen were classified as lobate, spatulate and tongue-shaped respectively with Grjotlia the most stable. A new morphological classification of ‘crown-shaped’ is suggested for Brugdedalen and Jutuldalen, and they also appear most active. The control of local climate on rock glacier mechanics is emphasised by the findings, and thus climatic interpolation from a single weather stations is not useful. Increased spatial and temporal coverage of sediment profiles, surface topography and active-layer characteristics could be used to elucidate the processes and controls of these landforms in the Antarctic. Master Thesis Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Vassdalen Rhodes University Cory: Repository Antarctic Brugdedalen ENVELOPE(2.782,2.782,-72.040,-72.040) Dronning Maud Land Grjotlia ENVELOPE(2.567,2.567,-72.017,-72.017) Grjotøyra ENVELOPE(2.541,2.541,-72.036,-72.036) Jutuldalen ENVELOPE(2.812,2.812,-72.000,-72.000) Jutulsessen ENVELOPE(2.750,2.750,-72.017,-72.017) The Antarctic The Toe ENVELOPE(-59.167,-59.167,-62.333,-62.333) Vassdalen ENVELOPE(2.647,2.647,-72.033,-72.033) |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Rhodes University Cory: Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftrhodesunivcory |
language |
English |
description |
Rock glaciers are landforms that present downslope movement of debris under the influence of ice and gravity. These landforms can be used as paleo-climate indicators as well as proxies for climate change. Rock glaciers have been investigated in a variety of climates and landscapes, however continental Antarctica, Dronning Maud Land specifically, remains understudied. This thesis aimed to investigate and classify five rock glaciers observed in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land. The surface characteristics and geomorphology were assessed and used as generic classifiers. Size, shape and landscape association was established by field surveying and GIS, whilst sediment and clast characteristics were determined from sampling. A surface temperature profile was created from short-term high frequency temperature measurements. All of the rock glaciers exhibit either undulating surfaces or patterned ground, or both, which suggests active-layer related processes. Sediment particle size analysis is inconclusive. The 137Cs-content and fabric analysis suggest movement regimes similar to other rock glaciers with higher activity at the head, and variable movement directions at the toe. Relative “activeness” is inferred from morphology: Grjotlia, Grjotøyra and Vassdalen were classified as lobate, spatulate and tongue-shaped respectively with Grjotlia the most stable. A new morphological classification of ‘crown-shaped’ is suggested for Brugdedalen and Jutuldalen, and they also appear most active. The control of local climate on rock glacier mechanics is emphasised by the findings, and thus climatic interpolation from a single weather stations is not useful. Increased spatial and temporal coverage of sediment profiles, surface topography and active-layer characteristics could be used to elucidate the processes and controls of these landforms in the Antarctic. |
format |
Master Thesis |
author |
Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena |
spellingShingle |
Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
author_facet |
Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena |
author_sort |
Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena |
title |
Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_short |
Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_full |
Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the Jutulsessen, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica |
title_sort |
surface characteristics of rock glaciers in the jutulsessen, dronning maud land, antarctica |
publisher |
Rhodes University |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2667 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:20314 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(2.782,2.782,-72.040,-72.040) ENVELOPE(2.567,2.567,-72.017,-72.017) ENVELOPE(2.541,2.541,-72.036,-72.036) ENVELOPE(2.812,2.812,-72.000,-72.000) ENVELOPE(2.750,2.750,-72.017,-72.017) ENVELOPE(-59.167,-59.167,-62.333,-62.333) ENVELOPE(2.647,2.647,-72.033,-72.033) |
geographic |
Antarctic Brugdedalen Dronning Maud Land Grjotlia Grjotøyra Jutuldalen Jutulsessen The Antarctic The Toe Vassdalen |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Brugdedalen Dronning Maud Land Grjotlia Grjotøyra Jutuldalen Jutulsessen The Antarctic The Toe Vassdalen |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Vassdalen |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Vassdalen |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2667 vital:20314 https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:20314 |
op_rights |
Rudolph, Elizabeth Magdalena |
_version_ |
1766251883101421568 |