Multiple hydroclimatic controls over recent sedimentation in proglacial Mirror Lake, southern Selwyn Mountains, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Varves from Mirror Lake, Northwest Territories (62°N, 128°W) reveal significant, but changing climatic influences on discharge and sedimentation on a decadal scale during the late 20th century. The complex hydroclimatic signal within the sediments indicates the difficulty in identifying a quantitative relationship between varve thickness and a single climatic variable. Regression of recent varve thickness with local meteorological data shows July temperature as the dominant control over sediment accumulation. In contrast, the dampening effects of increased snowfall on glacier ablation and resultant runoff reduce sediment delivery. Although the impact of snowfall does not appear to significantly weaken the relationship between summer temperature and varve formation, periods when multiple climatic factors control sediment delivery are characterized by distinctive varves containing two prominent silt units. Thus, the Mirror Lake hydrological system appears to shift between two general states. The first state involves a pronounced summer glacial meltwater phase due to dominant summer temperature influences on glacial melt, resulting in varves with one silt unit. This varve structure dominates the sedimentary record from A.D. 1670 to 1941, possibly reflecting a Little Ice Age influence in the study area. The second state operates in years when glacial meltwater discharge is delayed until August, due to increased snow cover, and the lake receives increased sediment-poor nival melt. These conditions lead to the formation of varves with two silt units corresponding to nival and glacial discharge phases and are common in the sedimentary record from A.D. 1390 to 1669 and A.D. 1942 to 1996.