Late Weichselian and Holocene Glacimarine Sedimentation and Environments in Kejser Franz Josephs Fjord and On The Adjacent Continental Margin, East Greenland

• Main Author: Evans, Jeffrey
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cambridge 1998
• Subjects: Greenland; East Greenland; Greenland Sea; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/310771; https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.57860

The study outlines the glacimarine sedimentation patters and processes and environments in the Kejser Franz Josephs Fjord and on the adjacent continental margin of East Greenland during the Late Weichselian and Holocene. A variety of techniques are adpoted in this study in order to address the objectives outlined previously. The study is based on a suite of 8 cores from the, mid to outer region of Kejser Franz Josephs Fjord, and the continental shelf and slope. Core analyses included i) logging (core and x-radiographs), ii) determination of grain size distribution, iceberg rafted debris and physical properties (water content, porosity, grain density), iii) determination of stable oxygen and carbon isotopes, iv) radiocarbon dating, and v) calculation of sedimentation and accumulation rates. Additionaly, acoustic data is incorporated into the study to place the sediment cores within a regional context in terms of the sedimentation patterns and processed throughout the study area. The sedimentary record within the study dates back to the Late Weichselian glaciation. The record is confined to the continental slope and partly the continental shelf. The nature, extend and mechanisms of ice advance during the Late Weichselian glaciation could not be determined in this study. The upper continental slope is characterised by iceberg sedimentation with additional contribution from distal remnant of meltwater outflows escaping from East Greenland, sea ice rafting and pelagic settling. Mass wasting is recognised by the prescence of debris flows, which are derived from the rapid and unstable build-up of large volumes of glacigenic sediment. Mass wasting events are intermittent, vary from small scale to large scale., and are derived from local slope regions. The mid to lower continental slope are characterised by rain out and suspension settling punctuated by intermittent sediment gravity flows. Sea ice conditions during the Late Weichselian are extended resulting in reduced ventialtion of ocean surface waters and decreased ...