The development and preservation of an arctic proglacial icing

• Main Author: Wainstein, Pablo Andres
• Other Authors: Moorman, Brian J.
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Calgary 2011
• Subjects: Arctic; Bylot Island; Fountain Glacier; Nunavut; Climate change
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1880/104951; https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/3950

Bibliography: p. 166-176 As glaciers retreat world-wide and ice-related geomorphological features disappear in response to climate change, the importance of understanding the repercussions of their melt on the hydrology and geomorphology of Arctic basins increases. This thesis focuses on the conceptual and numerical modelling of Fountain Glacier proglacial icing located on Bylot Island, Nunavut. Emphasis is given to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in its annual regeneration and the glaciological and hydro-physical conditions responsible for its perennial preservation. Although it is known that glacial icings strongly interact with and depend on their adjacent glacier, there is still a lack of understanding concerning temporal relationships, hydrological feeding mechanisms and the glaciological conditions involved in their perennial preservation. The study of air photos, satellite imagery, topographical and geophysical surveys, ice coring and time lapse photogrammetry allowed a comprehensive understanding of the icing's hydrology and geomorphology, and their relationships with the glacier. Results suggest that there is a strong temporal relationship between Fountain Glacier and its proglacial icing. Glacial retreat has triggered important changes in the hydro-physical conditions of the proglacial valley and the icing. These have mainly resulted in thinning of the icing and relocation of the pro glacial springs through which the icing is fed by deep englacial and subglacial water. The morphology and hydraulics of the subglacial environment were also studied. Results point out that Fountain Glacier presents a well developed subglacial hydraulic network that allows the storage and effective conduction of water used in the regeneration of the icing. Evidence showed that the glacier has a favourable thermal regime which does not only allow the storage of pressurized water, but also its efficient conduction towards the outwash plain. Finally, the hydro-physical conditions of the proglacial valley and the ...