Abstract
ABSTRACTSmall-scale recessional push moraines are a characteristic signature of the active temperate glacial landsystem, and are often clearly linked to annual re-advances. These recessional push moraines represent a potentially valuable terrestrial climate archive, and may provide valuable insights into glacier dynamics. This paper presents detailed glacial geomorphological maps of recessional push moraines on the foreland of Skálafellsjökull, SE Iceland. Geomorphological maps have been produced at a scale of 1:3750 based on 2006 aerial photographs and 2012 satellite imagery. Using unmanned aerial vehicle-captured imagery, large-scale sample mapping of two selected areas of the glacier foreland has also been conducted, with the maps reproduced as A4-sized figures at scales of ∼1:2500 and ∼1:2000, respectively. Desk- and field-based mapping reveals suites of recessional push moraines distributed across the glacier foreland, often found in close association with flutings. Moraines on the foreland typically display distinctive ‘sawtooth' planform geometries, with complexities in the pattern occurring due to localised superimposition. The inventory of glacial geomorphological maps presented here provides a framework for subsequently exploring the characteristics of the recessional push moraines and recent ice-marginal fluctuations at Skálafellsjökull.
Highlights
IntroductionAnnual ice-marginal fluctuations at many Icelandic glaciers are manifest in the form of annual (push/squeeze) moraines (e.g. Price, 1970; Sharp, 1984; Krüger, 1995; Evans andTwigg, 2002), a characteristic signature of the active temperate glacial landsystem (Evans, 2003, 2005; Evans and Orton, 2015)
Annual ice-marginal fluctuations at many Icelandic glaciers are manifest in the form of annual moraines (e.g. Price, 1970; Sharp, 1984; Krüger, 1995; Evans andTwigg, 2002), a characteristic signature of the active temperate glacial landsystem (Evans, 2003, 2005; Evans and Orton, 2015)
Glacial geomorphological mapping reveals a series of recessional (“annual”) moraines distributed across the Skálafellsjökull foreland, with a total of 3,201 moraine fragments mapped on the glacier foreland based on the 2012 satellite imagery
Summary
Annual ice-marginal fluctuations at many Icelandic glaciers are manifest in the form of annual (push/squeeze) moraines (e.g. Price, 1970; Sharp, 1984; Krüger, 1995; Evans andTwigg, 2002), a characteristic signature of the active temperate glacial landsystem (Evans, 2003, 2005; Evans and Orton, 2015). Annual ice-marginal fluctuations at many Icelandic glaciers are manifest in the form of annual (push/squeeze) moraines Long sequences of annual moraines form when ice-front recession during the summer (ablation season) outstrips advance during the winter (accumulation season) over the course of a number of years (Boulton 1986; Bennett 2001). Long sequences of annual moraines potentially contain a seasonal signature of glacier response to climatic fluctuations, and have been associated with periods of elevated ablationseason temperature (Sharp, 1984; Krüger, 1995; Bradwell, 2004; Beedle et al, 2009; Bradwell et al, 2013). Given the potential of these features as a terrestrial climate archive, detailed examination of the characteristics of annual moraines on the forelands of Icelandic glaciers could yield valuable insights into the nature of, and controls on, recent ice-marginal retreat. During the past decade Icelandic glaciers have exhibited accelerating rates of icemarginal retreat and mass loss (e.g. Sigurðsson et al, 2007; Björnsson et al, 2013)
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