Glacial Sediment Production and Development of Hydro-Electric Power in Glacierized Areas

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of a sediment-monitoring programme carried out in connection with hydro-electric power development plans in the river basins surrounding the Jostedalsbreen ice cap in Norway. Whereas the highest suspended-sediment transport rates occur during years with several flash-flood events, the bed load is more dependent upon the duration of large magnitude flood events. Bed-load transport has been obtained from annual measurements of deltaic growth in small lakes at the front of glaciers. During the years 1968–86, the mean ratio of bed load to total load amounted to 0.30–0.50% of the total load, but in years with large magnitude floods this ratio decreased. The mean annual suspended sediment yield of Norwegian glaciers ranges from 100 tonnes km2 a−1 to 1300 tonnes km2 a−1. Valley glaciers cause the highest erosion rates, with the exception of the small cirque glacier, Trollbergdalsbreen, which is thought to be a soft bed glacier. The investigation programme undertaken involved monitoring the volume of suspended sediments, together with the size distribution, mineralogy and shape of grains. In general, the valley glaciers supply more sand than the smaller cirque glaciers, whereas particles in the fine sand and silt-size ranges in almost all of the glaciers are angular in shape. Methods of comparing the abrasive capacity of the sediment load at various intakes in a power plant are discussed. Long-term sediment supply from the glaciers was investigated by studies of varves and rythmites in sediment cores from glacier-fed lakes.