Contemporary sediment production and transfer in high-altitude glaciers

Abstract

The nature of fine-grained sediment production and transfer in high-altitude debris-covered glaciers was studied by examining the Rakhiot and Chungphar glaciers in the Nanga Parbat Himalaya, Northern Pakistan. Transport pathways, from the source areas to the glacier snout, were mapped and samples collected for particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Positive down-glacier trends in sediment fining and increased weathering showed that debris transport in the supraglacial zone of these Himalayan glaciers is an important contributor to contemporary glacial sediment production, resulting in intense comminution that yields large volumes of fine sediment. These findings cast doubt on the traditional view that the basal traction zone of glaciers is the only major source of fine sediment production in glaciated environments, although that view may hold true for classic alpine glaciers that are at lower altitudes and, as a consequence, generally have less supraglacial debris cover. To test this hypothesis, the Glacier de Cheilon, in the Swiss Alps was also studied. This glacier did not exhibit such striking down-glacier trends in the particle size characteristics measured. It is thus suggested that a thick debris-cover may be an important source of fine-grained sediments on glaciers that occur in high-altitude environments.