Glacial geology : ice sheets and landforms

402 Pages·2009·15.431 MB·English

by  Matthew Bennett, Neil F Glasser

Glacial Geology
Ice Sheets and Landforms
Second Edition
MATTHEW R. BENNETT
School of Conservation Sciences, Bournemouth
University, UK
NEIL F. GLASSER
Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences
Aberystwyth University, UK
AJohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication

Glacial Geology

Glacial Geology
Ice Sheets and Landforms
Second Edition
MATTHEW R. BENNETT
School of Conservation Sciences, Bournemouth
University, UK
NEIL F. GLASSER
Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences
Aberystwyth University, UK
AJohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
Thiseditionfirstpublished2009
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Bennett,Matthew(MatthewR.)
Glacialgeology:icesheetsandlandforms/MatthewR.Bennett,
NeilF.Glasser.—2nded.
p. cm.
Includesindex.
ISBN978-0-470-51690-4—ISBN978-0-470-51691-1
1. Glaciallandforms. 2. Glaciers. I. Glasser,NeilF. II. Title.
GB581.B452009
551.31—dc22
2008052800
ISBN:978-0-470-51690-4(HB)
978-0-470-51691-1(PB)
AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
Setin10/12PalatinobyIntegraSoftwareServicesPvt.Ltd,PondicherryIndia
PrintedinSingaporebyFabulousPrintersPteLtd.
FirstImpression 2009
Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xi
Illustrations xiii
Chapter1: Introduction 1
1.1 WhatisGlacialGeologyandWhyisitImportant? 1
1.2 TheAimandStructureofthisBook 6
Chapter2: GlaciationsAroundTheGlobe 7
2.1 TheAntarcticIceSheet 7
2.2 GreenlandintheGreenhouse 15
2.3 SouthernHemisphereTemperateGlaciers:Patagonia
andNewZealand 17
2.4 NorthernHemisphereTemperateGlaciers:Alaska
andIceland 21
2.5 High-AltitudeGlaciers:TheHimalaya 22
2.6 TropicalGlaciers:TheCordilleraBlanca,Peru 26
2.7 ArcticPolythermalGlaciers 29
2.8 Summary 33
SuggestedReading 33
Chapter3: MassBalanceandtheMechanismsofIceFlow 41
3.1 AnnualMassBalance 41
3.2 TheMassBalanceGradient:TheGlacialDrivingMechanism 44
3.3 MechanismsofIceFlow 47
3.4 ThePrinciplesofBasalThermalRegime 55
3.5 PatternsandRatesofIceFlow 63
3.6 GlacierResponsetoClimateChange 69
3.7 Summary 76
SuggestedReading 76
Chapter4: GlacierHydrology 81
4.1 GlacierHydrology 81
4.2 SourcesofGlacialMeltwater 82
4.3 StorageofWaterinGlaciers 83
4.4 MethodsofStudyingGlacierHydrology 84
4.5 GlacierHydrologicalSystems 86
4.6 SubglacialWaterPressure 90
vi Contents
4.7 DischargeFluctuations 97
4.8 GlacialMeltwaterErosion 102
4.9 Summary 104
SuggestedReading 104
Chapter5: TheProcessesofGlacialErosion 109
5.1 GlacialAbrasion 109
5.2 GlacialQuarrying 117
5.3 EstimatingRatesofGlacialErosion 125
5.4 PatternsofGlacialErosion 128
5.5 Summary 131
SuggestedReading 131
Chapter6: LandformsofGlacialErosion 135
6.1 MicroscaleFeaturesofGlacialErosion 135
6.2 MesoscaleFeaturesofGlacialErosion 147
6.3 MacroscaleFeaturesofGlacialErosion 157
6.4 LandscapesofGlacialErosion 174
6.5 Summary 179
SuggestedReading 179
Chapter7: GlacialDebrisEntrainmentandTransport 185
7.1 High-LevelDebrisTransport 185
7.2 DebrisEntrainment 190
7.3 Low-LevelDebrisTransport 193
7.4 DebrisTransferBetweenLowandHighLevels 197
7.5 DebrisTransfer 198
7.6 Summary 202
SuggestedReading 203
Chapter8: GlacialSedimentationonLand 207
8.1 DirectGlacialSedimentation 207
8.2 FluvialSedimentation 235
8.3 Summary 243
SuggestedReading 244
Chapter9: LandformsofGlacialDepositiononLand 247
9.1 Ice-MarginalMoraines 247
9.2 SubglacialLandformsFormedbyIceorSediment Flow 268
9.3 GlaciofluvialIce-MarginalLandforms 289
9.4 GlaciofluvialSubglacialLandforms 296
9.5 Summary 299
SuggestedReading 299
Chapter10: GlacialSedimentationinWater 305
10.1 SedimentationinLacustrineEnvironments 305
10.2 SedimentationinMarineEnvironments 315
10.3 DistinguishingGlaciolacustrineandGlaciomarine
DiamictsfromGlacialTills 324
Contents vii
10.4 Summary 325
SuggestedReading 325
Chapter11: LandformsofGlacialDepositioninWater 329
11.1 GlaciolacustrineLandforms 330
11.2 GlaciomarineLandforms 336
11.3 Summary 343
SuggestedReading 343
Chapter12: Palaeoglaciology 347
12.1 TheMethodsUsedinPalaeoglaciology 347
12.2 TheKeyLandformsUsedinPalaeoglaciology 353
12.3 FormerSubglacialThermalRegimes 358
12.4 PalaeoglaciologicalReconstructions 367
12.5 Summary 370
SuggestedReading 372
Index 377