Post-Younger Dryas deglaciation of the Greenland western margin as revealed by spatial analysis of lakes

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

GOROKHOVICH, Y.

Dep. of Environmental, Geographical and Geologic Sciences, Lehman College, City Univ., New York, Etats-Unis

RINTERKNECHT, V.

School of Geography and Geosciences, Univ., Scotland, St Andrews, Royaume-Uni

ROGERS, J.

Dep. of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia Univ., New York, Etats-Unis

Description :
Lake shapes and their spatial distribution are important geomorphological indicators in previously glaciated areas. Their shapes are influenced by the underlying geological structure and processes of glacial sediment deposition or erosion. Landsat imagery was used to extract lake outlines from a selected pilot-study area on the widest ice-free coastal margin of the south-western Greenland north of Kangerlussuaq. Analysis included image classification and spatial analysis of lakes with elevation data using geographic information system (GIS) tools. A morphometric index was applied to extract kettle lakes as indicators of a specific glacial process - ice stagnation. Analysis of their spatial distribution helped in the reconstruction of glacial dynamics in formerly glaciated terrain. The results show that spatial lake distribution combined with elevation analysis can be used to identify zones of glacial erosion and deposition.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2009, vol. 34, n°. 6, p. 801-809, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2009

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

Langue :
Anglais