The glaciation level in southern Alaska

Auteurs :
OSTREM, G.
HAAKENSEN, N.
ERIKSSON, T.

Description :
Maps showing the height of the glaciation level have been constructed at a scale of 1: 2 000 000 for Western North America. In this paper the third in a series is presented together with a combined map (1: 4 000 000) covering Western Canada and Southern Alaska. A map showing isohyets for Southern Alaska is compared with the map of the glaciation level. Similar comparisons are made with the summer temperature variations after reduction to the height of the glaciation level, and certain relations are found. It is concluded that the best explanation for variations in the height of the glaciation level is the variation in winter precipitation. Higher snowfall produces a lower glaciation level and vice versa. Topography may channel oceanic air masses far inland, thus depressing the glaciation level, demonstrated by embayments in the isoglacihypses shown on the maps.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Geografiska annaler Serie A physical geography Stockholm, 1981, vol. 63, n°. 3-4, p. 251-260, Références bibliographiques : 15 réf.

Date :
1981