The effects of interannual climate variability on the moraine record

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2014 The effects of interannual climate variability on the moraine record Leif S. Anderson; Leif S. Anderson 1Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Campus Box 450, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gerard H. Roe; Gerard H. Roe 2Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, 4000 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert S. Anderson Robert S. Anderson 1Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Campus Box 450, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2014) 42 (1): 55–58. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34791.1 Article history received: 20 May 2013 rev-recd: 15 Sep 2013 accepted: 19 Sep 2013 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Leif S. Anderson, Gerard H. Roe, Robert S. Anderson; The effects of interannual climate variability on the moraine record. Geology 2014;; 42 (1): 55–58. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34791.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Valley glacier moraines are commonly used to infer past mean annual precipitation and mean melt-season temperature. However, recent research has demonstrated that, even in steady climates, multi-decadal, kilometer-scale fluctuations in glacier length occur in response to stochastic, year-to-year variability in mass balance. When interpreting moraine sequences it is important to include the effect of interannual weather variability on glacier length; moraines record advances that are forced either by interannual variability or by a combination of climate change and interannual variability. We address this issue for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) glaciers of the Colorado Front Range, United States. Using a linear glacier model that allows thorough exploration of parameter uncertainties, supplemented by a shallow-ice flowline model, our analyses suggest that (1) glacial standstills longer than 50 years were unlikely; (2) mean glacier lengths are ∼10%–15% up-valley from maximum glacier lengths; and (3) individual LGM terminal moraines were formed by a combination of a climate change and interannual variability–forced advances. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.