Debris entrainment by basal freeze-on and thrusting during the 1995-1998 surge of Kuannersuit Glacier on Disko Island, west Greenland

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
Kuannersuit Glacier, a valley glacier on Disko Island, experienced a major surge from 1995 to 1998. The aim of this study is to describe the tectonic evolution of large englacial thrusts and the processes of basal ice formation using a multiproxy approach including structural glaciology, stable isotope composition (δ18O and δD), sedimentology and ground-penetrating radar. The AA. argue that the major debris layers that can be traced in the terminal zone represent englacial thrusts that were formed early during the surge. They interpret the stratified basal ice as a continuum formed mainly by freeze-on processes and localized regelation. The dispersed basal ice facies (D) was mainly formed by secondary processes where fine-grained sediment is mobilized in the vein system of ice. Their results have important implications for understanding the significance of basal ice formation and englacial thrusting beneath fast-flowing glaciers and it provides new information about the development of landforms during a glacier surge.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2010, vol. 35, n°. 5, p. 561-574, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 1,5 p.

Date :
2010

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley