Glacial landforms and glaciological processes of the temperate Wanda Glacier, South Shetlands

This paper presents the geomorphic mapping of the Wanda Glacier proglacial environment, King George Island, South Shetlands. All together investigates the glaciological dynamics related to the glacial landforms in the study area. The mapping was based on field analysis and image interpretation. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kellem da Rosa, Kátia, Vieira, Rosemary, Borges Fernandez, Guilherme, Lorenz Simoes, Felipe, Cardia Simoes, Jefferson
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo 2011
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Online Access:https://revistas.uchile.cl/index.php/IG/article/view/18494
Description
Summary:This paper presents the geomorphic mapping of the Wanda Glacier proglacial environment, King George Island, South Shetlands. All together investigates the glaciological dynamics related to the glacial landforms in the study area. The mapping was based on field analysis and image interpretation. The interpretation was also made by mean of identification and interpretation of the samples in laboratoty. Glaciofluvial, glaciomarine and subglacial processes predominate in the study area. As a result from the recent glacial retreat, several landforms and proglacial deposits, such as flutes, morainic ridges, striated rocks, have been exposed. Abraded and subglacially transported sediments predominate in the deglaciation environments, with meltwater flow in the bed. The generated map contributes in improving the knowledge about the processes that influence the glacial geomorphology and geodynamics. Furthermore this study serves as support to monitoring environmental change facing the glacier retreat processes as effect of climate variability verified in the study area. Este trabajo presenta la cartografía geomorfológica del ambiente proglacial del glaciar Wanda, Isla Rey Jorge, Shetland del Sur. Conjuntamente, se investiga la dinámica glaciológica de los rasgos glaciales en el área de estudio. El mapeo se basa en el análisis de terreno y en la interpretación de imágenes. La interpretación se hizo además con la identificación y posterior interpretación de las muestras de sedimentos en laboratorio. En el área de estudio predominan los procesos glaciofluviales, glaciomarinos y subglaciales. Como resultado del reciente retroceso de los glaciares, varios depósitos proglaciales, como flutes, cordones morénicos y rocas estriadas, han sido expuestos. Sedimentos erosionados y transportados subglacialmente predominan en el ambiente de deglaciación, con flujo de agua de deshielo en la base del glaciar. El mapa generado contribuye a mejorar el conocimiento sobre los procesos que influyen en la geomorfología glacial y la ...