Erosion rates and sediment yields of glaciers

Abstract

Sediment yields and glacial erosion rates are evaluated for four Norwegian glaciers during the years 1989-93. Annual erosion rates were determined from measurements of sediment load and water discharge in glacial meltwater rivers. The mean sediment yield and the corresponding erosion rate of the valley glaciers Engabreen and Nigardsbreen were found to be 456 t km−2 year−1 (0.168 mm year−1) and 210 t km−2 year−1 (0.078 mm year−1), respectively. A small and slow-moving cirque glacier Øvre Beiarbre yielded a rate of 482 t km−2 year−1 (0.178 mm year−1), and the sub-polar Svalbard glacier Brøggerbreen yielded 613 t km−2 year−1 (0.226 mm year−1). The erosion rates are low compared to glaciers elsewhere. There are also considerable variations in sediment yields at each glacier from year to year. However, different factors are found to control the variability on each individual glacier. Analysis of the relationship between water discharge and sediment concentration in meltwater rivers suggests that changes in subglacial drainage systems cause variations in sediment availability and the way sediments are melted out from the ice. When water pressure drops, the drainage system in fast-moving, thick valley glaciers deforms at a more rapid rate than in thin, slow-moving ones. New volumes of debris-laden ice are thus more readily available for melting when water pressure next increases. Beneath the thin, slow-moving Øvre Beiarbre, single years with high transport rates and evacuation of sediment are followed by periods of low availability lasting for 2 years or longer. It is suggested that this pattern results from exhaustion of sediment in a stable drainage system, with more sediment becoming available when the position of the subglacial drainage system is changed.