Moraine Morphology Research Articles

Post-little ice age glacial geomorphology of contrasting topographic settings at Skálafellsjökull, southeast Iceland

ABSTRACT Glacial geomorphological mapping from the southern margin of Skálafellsjökull, southeast Iceland, depicts a topographically diverse mountainside, influencing glacier dynamics, landform formation and glacier retreat since the Little Ice Age maximum in ∼1890. The glacial landforms present are typical of southeast Icelandic temperate glaciers, comprising recessional push moraines, including sawtooth moraines, and associated fluting. Study area A demonstrates an abandoned lobe confined by steep V-shaped topography, displaying moraines and minimal fluting, suggesting low preservation of landforms, and changes in glacier behaviour. At study area B, the sawtooth moraine morphology demonstrates changes in the glacier margin as the ice interacted with a series of topographic benches during active recession. The steep-sided valley at study area C illustrates densely spaced arcuate moraines, reflecting subtle changes in ice elevation. This mapping provides a framework for further investigations into glacier retreat rates and the influence of local topography and climate.

The glacial landsystem of Fjallsjökull, Iceland: Spatial and temporal evolution of process-form regimes at an active temperate glacier

This study assesses the spatial and temporal evolution of the glacial landsystem signature at Fjallsjökull, southeast Iceland, using (a) mapping of the glacial geomorphology and surficial geology and (b) repeat uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys. A small-scale (1: 15,000 scale) landsystem map has been compiled using LiDAR data (2011−2012) and historical aerial photographs (1945–1998), along with a large-scale (1: 2000 scale) map based on UAV imagery from May 2019. From our mapping and UAV surveys, we identify sediment-landform assemblages that are typical of active temperate glacial landsystems, including recessional push/squeeze moraines and intervening flutings, overridden moraine arcs, proglacial outwash (sandur) fans and linear/ribbon sandar. We recognize three landform zones that are defined by changes in moraine morphology and the nature of proglacial outwash deposition: (1) the outer foreland is characterized by proglacial outwash fans, overridden moraine arcs and broadly linear recessional moraines; (2) the middle foreland contains sawtooth moraines and linear sandar; and (3) the innermost zone comprises extremely sawtooth and hairpin moraines as well as associated crevasse-squeeze ridge limbs. This landform zonation reflects spatio-temporal changes in moraine-forming processes and outwash deposition as determined by changes in snout morphology and proglacial drainage characteristics. Within this general tripartite zonation, we also identify localized (azonal/intrazonal) sediment-landform assemblages that are not typically found at active temperate glaciers, including ice-cored/hummocky terrain and localized kame and kettle topography. Repeat UAV surveying in 2016–2019 has allowed us to capture and quantify recent intrazonal landsystem change at the southern glacier margin. We identify a switch from moraine formation to the development of ice-cored terrain and an ice-cored esker complex in association with the uncovering of a depositional overdeepening. Our study demonstrates the important role that variations in local boundary conditions (e.g. topography) can play in the process-form response of individual active temperate outlet glaciers, contributing to the expanding database on modern glacial landsystems.

Pedogenic evolution on the arid Bishop Creek moraines, eastern Sierra Nevada, California

Soil chronosequences on alpine moraine complexes have been used to help unravel the glacial histories of the eastern Sierra Nevada. The moraine sequence along Bishop Creek includes well-preserved moraines that have been previously dated using cosmogenic 36Cl surface exposure ages. The goal of this study was to interpret pedogenesis within a soil geomorphic context on these quantitatively dated moraines. Soil development, surface clast cover, and moraine morphology were studied on seven of the moraines, ranging in age from 15 to 170 ka. Older moraines had gentler slopes, broader crests, and decreased surface rock cover. Soils showed weak development across the chronosequence of moraines. Pedogenesis involved slight increases in clay, the formation of clay lamellae, development of a vesicular horizon in a surface layer of aeolian dust, and weathering of surface and subsurface granitic clasts. Soil reddening and structure development were minimal. Soil formation was likely inhibited by the arid to semi-arid climate and intermittent wind and water erosion during the time span of the chronosequence.

Paraglacial adjustment of alluvial fans to the last deglaciation in the Snežnik Mountain, Dinaric karst (Slovenia)

Glaciokarst depressions are major glacigenic depocenters in the Dinaric mountain karst areas and often store important information about the timing and nature of glacial processes and paraglacial sediment reworking. This study focuses on Praprotna draga, which is one of the largest glaciokarst depressions in the Snežnik Mountain (Dinaric karst), with an area of ~3.4 km2 and a maximum depth of 140 m. The western slopes of the depression are characterized by undulated moraine morphology and alluvial fans are filling its entire floor. We present the results on the thickness, origin and age of the sediment infill using a complementary geomorphological, sedimentological, geophysical and dating approach. Distribution of moraines point to two glacial advances that were associated with two main alluvial fan aggradation phases recognized using the electrical resistivity tomography measurements. The youngest alluvial deposits were sampled for cosmogenic 36Cl analysis using amalgamated carbonate pebbles. The depth profile of 36Cl concentrations suggests an age of 12.3 ± 1.7 ka when assuming a likely denudation rate of 20 mm ka−1. Since the existence of the Younger Dryas glaciers in the study area is climatically difficult to explain, we tentatively propose that the youngest alluvial deposition in Praprotna draga took place after the glacier retreat during the paraglacial period. Our findings suggest that the time window of paraglacial adjustment in the Snežnik Mountain was brief and likely conditioned by quick recolonization with vegetation and inefficient surface runoff on deglaciated karst terrain.

Geomorphic processes influence human settlement on two islands in the Islands of Four Mountains, Alaska

AbstractThe Islands of Four Mountains island group of the Aleutian island arc is remote and difficult to access. Consequently, little fieldwork has focused on geomorphic processes and their relationship to island morphology, climatic change, and human settlement. We investigated glacial, fluvial, and slope processes on the morphologically different Carlisle, Cleveland, and Tana volcanoes. The islands were extensively glaciated at the last glacial maximum (LGM), and there is evidence for a Neoglacial advance. On the highly dissected Tana volcano, a large basin is likely the result of a pre-LGM sector collapse and subsequent glacial erosion into weak hydrothermally altered rock. Valley and moraine morphology is also influenced by hydrothermal alteration. On both Tana and Carlisle, there are sediment fans composed dominantly of thick debris flow deposits mantled by ~3 m of layered tephras, fine-grained alluvium, and anthropogenic deposits. Debris flow deposition was favored during the unstable paraglacial landscape of the early Holocene–latest Pleistocene. The earliest direct archaeological evidence for settlement is 3.8 cal ka BP, but soil geochemical evidence suggests that the islands were inhabited by 7.3 cal ka BP. This discrepancy in the archaeological record may be explained by geomorphic processes including coastal erosion and unstable geomorphic surfaces.

Proglacial damlakes in eastern Transbaikalia: New insight into the Pleistocene paleogeography

Paleogeographic reconstructions for the Samarovo, Taz, Murukta, and Sartan glaciations reveal the formation conditions of proglacial lakes dammed by ice in intermontane depressions and valleys of large rivers in eastern Transbaikalia. Middle-Late Pleistocene climate change is reconstructed using spore-pollen spectra from Pleistocene sediments in northern Transbaikalia. The age and lifetime of proglacial lakes are constrained by radiocarbon, thermoluminescence, and varve chronology of their bottom sediments in the periglacial zone. The lake levels remain recorded in sediments produced by deposition and erosion along the former lake shores, as well as in morphology and lithology variations of terminal moraines. A large proglacial lake, with a maximum level of 1020 m, occupied vast areas in Transbaikalia and its surroundings during the Samarovo glaciation. After the glaciers degraded, the Amur River system expanded into the area of closed lake basins in the southeastern Baikal region, including North China and Mongolia. The obtained results have implications for the Middle-Late Pleistocene history of lake deposition.

Re‐assessment of the age and depositional origin of the Paviland Moraine, Gower, south Wales, UK

The Bristol Channel, including onshore areas, is critical for reconstructing Pleistocene glacial limits in southwest Britain. Debate about the precise regional southern limits of Devensian (Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS) 2) and Anglian (OIS 12) glaciations has recently been rekindled. The Paviland Moraine (Llanddewi Formation), Gower, south Wales is conventionally regarded as Anglian in age. Its ‘old’ age has been based on reported highly weathered clasts, a subdued morphology and ‘field relationships’ to fossil beach sediments of now disputed age(s). Relatively little about its sedimentary characteristics has been previously published. This paper: (i) presents new sedimentological evidence including lithofacies analysis, XRF analysis and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) of sediment cores and electrical resistivity of a tied 3D field grid; (ii) re‐assesses the proposed ‘old’ age; (iii) suggests a likely depositional origin; and (iv) discusses implications for regional glacial dynamics and future research priorities. The sediments comprise mostly dipping glacigenic diamict units containing mainly Welsh Coalfield erratics. The location and subdued moraine morphology are attributed to the hydrological influence of the underlying limestone, the local topography and ice‐sheet behaviour rather than to long‐term degradation. Moraine formation is attributed mainly to sediment gravity flows that coalesced to produce an ice‐frontal apron. Neither geochemical data nor clasts indicate prolonged subaerial weathering and in‐situ moraine sediments are restricted to a limestone plateau above and inland of fossil beach sediments. We recommend rejecting the view that the moraine represents the only recognized OIS 12 deposit in Wales and conclude that instead it marks the limit of relatively thin Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice in west Gower. This requires revision of the accepted view of a more restricted LGM limit in the area. We suggest that substrate hydrological conditions may be a more influential factor in moraine location and form than is currently acknowledged.

Contrasting medial moraine development at adjacent temperate, maritime glaciers: Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, South Westland, New Zealand

Medial moraines form important pathways for sediment transportation in valley glaciers. Despite the existence of well-defined medial moraines on several glaciers in the New Zealand Southern Alps, medial moraines there have hitherto escaped attention. The evolving morphology and debris content of medial moraines on Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier on the western flank of the Southern Alps is the focus of this study. These temperate maritime glaciers exhibit accumulation zones of multiple basins that feed narrow tongues flowing down steep valleys and terminate ~400m above sea level. The medial moraines at both glaciers become very prominent in the lower ablation zones, where the medial moraines widen, and develop steeper flanks coeval with an increase in relative relief. Medial moraine growth appears somewhat self-limiting in that relief and slope angle increase eventually lead to transport of debris away from the medial moraine by mass-movement-related processes. Despite similarities in overall morphologies, a key contrast in medial moraine formation exists between the two glaciers. At Fox Glacier, the medial moraine consists of angular rockfall-derived debris, folded to varying degrees along flow-parallel axes throughout the tongue. The debris originates above the ELA, coalesces at flow-unit boundaries, and takes a medium/high level transport pathway before subsequently emerging at point-sources aligned with gently dipping fold hinges near the snout. In contrast at Franz Josef Glacier, the medial moraine emerges farther down-glacier immediately below a prominent rock knob. Clasts show a mix of angular to rounded shapes representing high level transport and subglacially transported materials, the latter facies possibly also elevated by supraglacial routing of subglacial meltwater. Our observations confirm that a variety of different debris sources, transport pathways, and structural glaciological processes can interact to form medial moraines within New Zealand's Southern Alps.

Using a small COTS UAV to quantify moraine dynamics induced by climate shift in Arctic environments

ABSTRACTArctic regions are known to be places where climate shift yields the most visible consequences. In this context, glaciers and their environment are highly subject to global warming effects. New dynamics are observed and the behaviour of arctic systems (such as glaciers, moraines, beaches, etc.) changes at rates visible over yearly observations. According to recent works on climate change impacts on the cryosphere, short/violent events are recently observed and are one characteristic of these changes. As a consequence, an accelerating rate of glacial and pro-glacial activity is observed, especially at the end of each hydrological season (early fall). As an example, many phases of streamflow increase/decrease are observed, transforming glacier outflows, moraine morphology, and re-organizing intra-moraine processes. Within only a few days, the morphology of some parts of the moraine can be completely changed. In order to observe and quantify these processes, reactive methods of survey are needed. That is why the use of commercial off the shelf – DJI Phantom3 Professional – unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for aerial photography acquisition combined with structure from motion analysis and digital elevation model computation were chosen. The robust architecture of this platform makes it well suited as a reliable picture acquisition system for high resolution (sub-decimetre) imaging. These increasingly popular methods, at a convergence of technologies including inertial guidance systems, long lasting batteries, and available computational power (both embedded and for image processing), allow to fly and to acquire data whatever the conditions of cloud cover. Furthermore, data acquisition is much more flexible than traditional satellite imagery: several flights can be performed in order to obtain the best conditions/acquisitions at a high spatiotemporal resolution. Moreover, the low-flying UAV yielding high picture resolution allows to generate high-resolution digital elevation models, and therefore, to measure accurately dynamics on the field with decimetre resolution in all three directions. Our objective is to show an experimental campaign of small UAV data acquisition in an arctic basin (Austre Lovén glacier, Svalbard, 78°N) separated by a few days. Knowing the changing conditions at this period, similar UAV flights have been reiterated in order to catch moraine dynamics. This allowed us to select two sets of images whose processing highlights and quantifies morphological changes into the moraine while a rain event occurred between two cold periods.

Little Ice Age glacial geomorphology and sedimentology of Portage Glacier, South-Central Alaska

The study of glacial landforms and deposits is important, as it is difficult to observe processes under modern glaciers and ice-sheets. Thus landscapes and sediments that are the product of present glaciation can give insight into processes that occurred during pleistocene times. This study investigates the genesis of little ice age glacial landforms present in portage Glacier, South-central Alaska. The present day moraine morphology and sedimentology in portage Glacier valley reveals the presence of two types of till and moraines. The clast-rich sandy diamicton present on the 1852 moraine is interpreted to be a basal till indicating this feature is a push moraine representing an advance or a standstill position of portage Glacier in 1852. The moderately sorted gray sandy boulder gravel present on the 1900 and 1922 moraines is interpreted to be an ice-marginal deposit (ablation till) with a mixture of supraglacial and glaciofluvial sediments deposited by slumping and stream sorting processes. All of these features are interpreted to be ablation moraines representing glacier retreat and moraine building in 1900 and1922.

Till fabric analysis and origin of Portage Glacier Little Ice Age moraines, south-central Alaska

Observations of geomorphic and sedimentary processes occurring in modern glaciers allows interpretations of the genesis of older glacial deposits and landforms and has led glacial geomorphologists and geologists to place a greater emphasis on studies of glacial sedimentology. This research investigates the genesis of Little Ice Age (LIA) moraines present in Portage Glacier Valley, south-central Alaska using till fabric and grain size analysis. The present-day moraine morphology and sedimentology in Portage Glacier Valley reveals the presence of two types of till and moraines. The clast-rich medium to coarse sandy diamicton present in the AD 1852 moraine is interpreted to be a lodgment till indicating that this feature is primarily a Type A push moraine representing glacial advance of Portage Glacier prior to AD 1852. The clast-rich coarse to very coarse sandy diamicton present in the AD 1900 and AD 1922 moraines is interpreted to be a supraglacial melt-out till (ablation till) indicating that these features are ablation moraines representing glacier recession and moraine building of Portage Glacier in AD 1900 and AD 1922.

Controlled moraine development and debris transport pathways in polythermal plateau icefields: examples from Tungnafellsjökull, Iceland

AbstractA modern landsystems analogue for plateau icefield glaciation is presented, based upon Tungnafellsjökull in the arid, cold interior of Iceland. Landform mapping and intensive clast form analysis on three separate forelands occupied during the Little Ice Age reveal variability in the morphology of moraines and the degree of clast modification, which is interpreted as a function of the complex interplay between: (a) the efficacy of glacial erosion; (b) passive versus active debris transfer mechanisms; and (c) the volume of debris provision for ice‐marginal freeze‐on mechanisms. A steep outlet bounded by rockwalls produced a landform assemblage and debris transport signature typical of valley glaciers, whereas two unconfined outlets produced a landform‐sediment imprint typical of polythermal conditions. This comprises subglacial bedforms, relating to the initiation of warm‐based ice by strain heating below icefalls at the plateau edge, terminating at arcs of ice‐cored (controlled) moraine representative of frozen snout conditions. Patterns in clast form data on the unrestricted forelands reflect the characteristics of glacier dynamics and thermal regimes at the margin of a plateau icefield, where bedrock steps of sufficient size to initiate strain heating and bedrock abrasion and plucking are located only a short distance from the marginal freeze‐on conditions of a snout creating debris‐rich folia and controlled moraine. Additional englacial debris may well have been carried to the glacier margin through the development of ogives and englacial thrusting at the base of the icefall, thereby explaining the occurrence of striae on clasts that have otherwise been little modified by glacial abrasion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Little Ice Age glacier advance in the Central Andes (35°S), Argentina

This paper documents the occurrence of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in the El Azufre and El Peñón glaciers at 35°S and in the Las Choicas and Las Damas glaciers at 34°55′S in the headwaters of the Rio Grande basin in the Central Andes of Argentina. Moraine morphology, stratigraphic relationships, radiocarbon ages obtained from peat on these glacial deposits and the proximity to the active glaciers enabled us to reconstruct the LIA advance in this area. The LIA maximum advance occurred between cal. yr 1550 and 1720 AD, and a readvance occurred around cal. yr 1830 AD. In addition, glacier fluctuations of the Las Vacas and Güssfeltd glaciers (33°S) and El Peñón and El Azufre glaciers were documented from the end of the 19th century to the present based on historical and aerial photographs, and satellite images. The glaciers showed a marked retreat during 1894–2007. Minor readvances occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, which could be related with strong warm ENSO events during these decades. Our results are consistent with observations made by other authors in the region.

The formation of sawtooth moraine ridges in Bødalen, western Norway

The forefield of the Bødalsbreen glacier, western Norway, exhibits a prominent set of end moraines. The outermost one, deposited at the Little Ice Age (LIA) maximum (A.D. ∼ 1755), is smooth, continuous and arcuate, thus reflecting an even ice front. In contrast, subsequently formed moraines (deposited A.D. ∼ 1767–1930) show a striking “sawtooth” morphology. In an attempt to elucidate the formation processes responsible for this complex landform assemblage, we have employed several methods of investigation including geomorphological mapping, sedimentological studies, and ground penetrating radar (GPR). In general, the detailed formation processes of all moraines include bulldozing and thrusting. Furthermore, the sediment composition and structure are similar for all the moraines containing recycled diamicton. The remaining major factor influencing the moraine morphology thus seems to be the shape of the glacier front. Due to the distinctive geometry of the Bødalen valley, the former glacier underwent strong changes of its transverse stress field. In the part where the valley was wider, splaying/radial crevasses developed. Further downvalley, where the valley again narrowed, these crevasses were closed. As previous studies have concluded, the change in valley morphology to a large extent explains the distinct morphology of the Bødalen valley moraines. This notion is further corroborated by studying sawtooth or sawtooth-like moraines elsewhere where valley geometry also seems to have been a major contributing factor for moraine morphology.

Changes in ice‐margin processes and sediment routing during ice‐sheet advance across a marginal moraine

.Advance of part of the margin of the Greenland ice sheet across a proglacial moraine ridge between 1968 and 2002 caused progressive changes in moraine morphology, basal ice formation, debris release, ice‐marginal sediment storage, and sediment transfer to the distal proglacial zone. When the ice margin is behind the moraine, most of the sediment released from the glacier is stored close to the ice margin. As the margin advances across the moraine the potential for ice‐proximal sediment storage decreases and distal sediment flux is augmented by reactivation of moraine sediment. For six stages of advance associated with distinctive glacial and sedimentary processes we describe the ice margin, the debris‐rich basal ice, debris release from the glacier, sediment routing into the proglacial zone, and geomorphic processes on the moraine. The overtopping of a moraine ridge is a significant glaciological, geomorphological and sedimentological threshold in glacier advance, likely to cause a distinctive pulse in distal sediment accumulation rates that should be taken into account when glacial sediments are interpreted to reconstruct glacier fluctuations.

Morphology, distribution and formation of relict marginal moraines in the swedish mountains

Relict marginal moraines are commonly used landforms in palaeoglaciological reconstructions. In the Swedish mountains, a large number of relict marginal moraines of variable morphology and origin occur. In this study, we have mapped 234 relict marginal moraines distributed all along the Swedish mountains and classified them into four morphological classes: cirque‐and‐valley moraines, valley‐side moraines, complex moraines and cross‐valley moraines. Of these, 46 moraines have been reclassified or are here mapped for the first time. A vast majority of the relict moraines are shown to have formed during deglaciation of an ice‐sheet, rather than by local mountain glaciers as suggested in earlier studies. The relict marginal moraines generally indicate that deglaciation throughout the mountains was characterised by a retreating ice‐sheet, successively damming glacial lakes, and downwasting around mountains. The general lack of moraines indicating valley and cirque glaciers during deglaciation suggests that climatic conditions were unfavourable for local glaciation during the last phase of the Weichselian. This interpretation contrasts with some earlier studies that have reconstructed the formation of local glaciers in the higher parts of the Swedish mountains during deglaciation.

Last Glacial Maximum equilibrium line altitudes in the circum-Caribbean (Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Venezuela)

Equilibrium line altitude (ELA) estimates for Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) paleoglaciers in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Venezuela were determined using the accumulation area balance ratio (AABR), accumulation area ratio (AAR), toe-to-headwall altitude ratio (THAR), and the maximum altitude of lateral moraine (MALM) methods. LGM glacial expansions are chronologically constrained in Mexico, the Mérida Andes of Venezuela, the mountains around Bogotá, Colombia, and the Ruíz-Tolima massif, Colombia. Undated glacial sites are tentatively correlated to dated sites on the basis of similar moraine morphology and weathering characteristics. LGM ELAs are 3400–3950 m in central Mexico, 3544 m for Guatemala, 3477±13 m for Costa Rica, 4104±197 m for the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, 3480 m for the Ruíz-Tolima region of Colombia, 3345±130 m for the mountains around Bogotá, Colombia, 4151±181 m for the Sierra Nevada de Cocuy, Colombia, and 3576±163 m for the Mérida Andes of Venezuela. As the modern ELA and/or 0 °C isotherm is found at 4900±200 m, LGM ELA depression in the circum-Caribbean region was between 500 and 1625 m.

Relative and Numeric Age Data for Pleistocene Glacial Deposits and Diamictons in and near Sinks Canyon, Wind River Range, Wyoming, U.S.A

Glacial deposits are identified from within and near Sinks Canyon, southwest of Lander, Wyoming, representing 6 first-order Pleistocene glaciations. Relative-age analyses of the deposits (including moraine morphology and soil development characteristics) indicate that they correspond to 4 glaciations previously identified from the Wind River Range (Pinedale, Early Wisconsin, Bull Lake, and Sacagawea Ridge) and to 2 older glacial events (Younger and Older Pre–Sacagawea Ridge). 10Be and 26Al exposure ages associated with recessional Pinedale deposits are similar to those associated with recessional Pinedale deposits elsewhere in the range. 10Be and 26Al exposure ages also support the identification of Early Wisconsin deposits here. The Early Wisconsin deposits represent the second locality where O-isotope stage 4 glacial deposits are described from the Wind River Range. Preliminary analysis of 10Be exposure data from the Older Pre–Sacagawea Ridge deposit suggests that a glacial advance occurred here before O-isotope stage 18 (>800 ka). If true, then Sinks Canyon contains the most complete record to date of glaciation in the Wind River Range and the only reported record of Pleistocene glaciation prior to O-isotope stage 18 in the Rocky Mountains.

Relict lateral moraines in northern Sweden—evidence for an early mountain centred ice sheet

Glacial geomorphology along the eastern rim of the Scandinavian mountain range includes glacial landforms from the last deglaciation as well as from earlier glacial stages. One of the most prominent landform groups from earlier glacial stages, and the most diagnostic for ice sheet reconstruction, is a set of lateral moraines. In this paper, we describe these lateral moraines within a key area around Kvikkjokk, northern Sweden. Position of these lateral moraines in relation to the last deglaciation patterns indicates that they were formed before the last glacial maximum (LGM). The location and morphology of moraines show that they were deposited by a mountain centred ice sheet with outlet glaciers along major valleys, emanating from the highlands west of the Kvikkjokk area. This ice sheet was likely less than 170-km wide and no more than 600-m thick. Climatologically and glaciologically, we expect the relict lateral moraines to have been deposited before 75 ka BP (marine oxygen isotope stage 4). Their preservation is a consequence of subsequent overriding of nonerosive cold-based ice. Ice-marginal landforms and deposits from mountain centred ice sheet configurations in Fennoscandia are scarce. Therefore, the relict lateral moraines are important tools for reconstructing these elusive early glacial stages, possibly correlated to the ice sheet inception.

The morphology, structural evolution and significance of push moraines

Push moraines (glaciotectonic ice-marginal moraines) have a restricted distribution at modern glacier margins and consequently are of potential value in reconstructing Pleistocene ice sheets, providing data both on former glaciodynamics and on the palaeoenvironment of the glacial foreland. To the wider earth science community, push moraines are of interest as analogues for thin-skin tectonics within orogenic belts. This paper reviews the morphology, structural geology, formation and significance of push moraines. The morphological and structural characteristics of small, seasonal, push moraines through to large, multi-crested, examples produced by sustained glacier advances are reported, before the primary controls on push moraine formation are examined. These controls include the nature of the applied glacial stress field, the presence and properties of décollement horizons, and the shear strength and rheology of the glacial foreland. A conceptual model of push moraine formation is introduced, in which the range of observed morphological and structural forms are viewed within a matrix defined by the main variables which control their formation. The absence of consensus over which of these variables is of greatest importance currently limits the significance of push moraines in palaeoglaciological research. As a consequence, this review emphasises the need for future research in order to realise the true potential of push moraine in the reconstruction of Pleistocene environments.