The glaciated valley landsystem of Morsárjökull, southeast Iceland. Issue 2 (30th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evans, David J. A.; Ewertowski, Marek; Orton, Chris
• Is Part Of: Journal of maps. Volume 13:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 909
• Page End: 920
• Publication Date: 2017-11-30
• Subjects: Glaciated valley landsystem -- uncovered alpine glacier -- Morsárjökull -- debris-charged glacier -- rock slope failures -- push and dump moraines; Maps -- Periodicals; Cartography -- Periodicals; 912.05
• DOI: 10.1080/17445647.2017.1401491
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-5647

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A 1:4470 map of the Morsárjökull foreland, southern Iceland shows the spatial distribution of post Little Ice Age glacial sediment–landform associations pertaining to the operation of a typical active temperate outlet glacier of the south Vatnajökull ice cap. The map depicts an exemplar for the debris-charged glaciated valley landsystem, with characteristics further indicative of 'uncovered alpine glaciers', such as the uneven distribution of moraine volume, the localized appearance of a fluted subglacial bed and within-valley lateral moraine asymmetry. Such glaciers are characterized by strong glacier-climate coupling, because temporally and spatially sporadic rock avalanche-type medial moraines can only locally retard ablation. This morainic debris also has a short residence time in the glacier system due to its strong coupling with the proglacial fluvial system and resulting in efficient sediment transfer. Areas of more substantial latero-frontal moraine document phases of rock slope failure onto the snout and the passage of the debris to the ice margin.