Characterization of the englacial and subglacial drainage system in a high Arctic cold glacier by speleological mapping and ground-penetrating radar
Abstract
This paper presents new data obtained by speleological surveys and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) on a cut-and-closure conduit in Scott Turnerbreen, a small cold glacier in Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic. We use these data to propose criteria for the identification of cut-and-closure conduits from GPR data. In addition, we describe subglacial and englacial structures exposed in the conduit, which shed light on the former dynamic behaviour of the glacier. The glacier bed consists of a thick layer of subglacial traction till, from which till-filled fractures extend upward into the ice. These observations show that Scott Turnerbreen was formerly warm-based, and are consistent with a surge or surge-like behaviour. The channel system was also imaged using GPR. Varying channel morphologies have distinctive signatures on GPR profiles, allowing the identification and mapping of englacial drainage systems in situations where direct access is impossible.
Citation
Temminghoff , M , Benn , D I , Gulley , J D & Sevestre , H 2018 , ' Characterization of the englacial and subglacial drainage system in a high Arctic cold glacier by speleological mapping and ground-penetrating radar ' , Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography , vol. Latest Articles . https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2018.1545120
Publication
Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0435-3676Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2018 Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2018.1545120
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