The Eyjabakkajökull glacial landsystem, Iceland: Geomorphic impact of multiple surges

Anders Schomacker; Ívar Örn Benediktsson; Ólafur Ingólfsson

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.07.005

The Eyjabakkajökull glacial landsystem, Iceland: Geomorphic impact of multiple surges

Anders Schomacker, Ívar Örn Benediktsson, Ólafur Ingólfsson

University of Iceland

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A new glacial geomorphological map of the Eyjabakkajökull forefield in Iceland is presented. The map covers c. 60km² and is based on high-resolution aerial photographs recorded in August 2008 as well as field checking. Landforms are manually registered in a geographical information system (ArcGIS) based on inspection of orthorectified imagery and digital elevation models of the area. We mapped subglacially streamlined landforms such as flutes and drumlins on the till plain, supraglacial landforms such as ice-cored moraine, pitted outwash, and concertina eskers, and ice-marginal landforms such as the large, multi-crested 1890 surge end moraine and smaller single-crested end moraines. The glaciofluvial landforms are represented by outwash plains, minor outwash fans, and sinuous eskers. Extramarginal sediments were also registered and consist mainly of old sediments in wetlands or locally weathered bedrock. Eyjabakkajökull has behaved as a surge-type glacier for 2200years; hence, the mapped landforms originate from multiple surges. Landforms such as large glaciotectonic end moraines, hummocky moraine, long flutes, crevasse-fill ridges, and concertina eskers are characteristic for surge-type glaciers. The surging glacier landsystem of Eyjabakkajökull serves as a modern analog to the landsystems of terrestrial paleo-ice streams.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	98-107
Number of pages	10
Journal	Geomorphology
Volume	218
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.07.005
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: The Eyjabakkajökull project was generously funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund , the Landsvirkjun Energy Research Fund , the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students , the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences , the Carlsberg Foundation , and the Research fund of the Fljótsdalshreppur municipality . Our sincere thanks go to our co-workers in the field 2006–2008: Mark D. Johnson, Jaap J.M. van der Meer, Hanna Lokrantz, Torbjörn Andersson, Amanda Ferguson, Eygló Ólafsdóttir, Skafti Brynjólfsson, Susi Ebmeier, Antje Herbrich, and Jón Björn Ólafsson. Rúnar Ingi Hjartarson and Björn Oddson are thanked for the logistical assistance. Finnur Pálsson is thanked for brief discussions on the ice volume changes during the 1972–73 and 1890 surges. The manuscript benefited from constructive comments from two anonymous reviewers.

Other keywords

Aerial photographs
Eyjabakkajökull
Glacial geomorphology
Iceland
Landsystem
Surge-type glacier

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10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.07.005

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@article{2926794dff3f4c03ac82a92212ee8f12,

title = "The Eyjabakkaj{\"o}kull glacial landsystem, Iceland: Geomorphic impact of multiple surges",

abstract = "A new glacial geomorphological map of the Eyjabakkaj{\"o}kull forefield in Iceland is presented. The map covers c. 60km2 and is based on high-resolution aerial photographs recorded in August 2008 as well as field checking. Landforms are manually registered in a geographical information system (ArcGIS) based on inspection of orthorectified imagery and digital elevation models of the area. We mapped subglacially streamlined landforms such as flutes and drumlins on the till plain, supraglacial landforms such as ice-cored moraine, pitted outwash, and concertina eskers, and ice-marginal landforms such as the large, multi-crested 1890 surge end moraine and smaller single-crested end moraines. The glaciofluvial landforms are represented by outwash plains, minor outwash fans, and sinuous eskers. Extramarginal sediments were also registered and consist mainly of old sediments in wetlands or locally weathered bedrock. Eyjabakkaj{\"o}kull has behaved as a surge-type glacier for 2200years; hence, the mapped landforms originate from multiple surges. Landforms such as large glaciotectonic end moraines, hummocky moraine, long flutes, crevasse-fill ridges, and concertina eskers are characteristic for surge-type glaciers. The surging glacier landsystem of Eyjabakkaj{\"o}kull serves as a modern analog to the landsystems of terrestrial paleo-ice streams.",

keywords = "Aerial photographs, Eyjabakkaj{\"o}kull, Glacial geomorphology, Iceland, Landsystem, Surge-type glacier",

author = "Anders Schomacker and Benediktsson, \{{\'I}var {\"O}rn\} and {\'O}lafur Ing{\'o}lfsson",

note = "Funding Information: The Eyjabakkaj{\"o}kull project was generously funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund , the Landsvirkjun Energy Research Fund , the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students , the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences , the Carlsberg Foundation , and the Research fund of the Flj{\'o}tsdalshreppur municipality . Our sincere thanks go to our co-workers in the field 2006–2008: Mark D. Johnson, Jaap J.M. van der Meer, Hanna Lokrantz, Torbj{\"o}rn Andersson, Amanda Ferguson, Eygl{\'o} {\'O}lafsd{\'o}ttir, Skafti Brynj{\'o}lfsson, Susi Ebmeier, Antje Herbrich, and J{\'o}n Bj{\"o}rn {\'O}lafsson. R{\'u}nar Ingi Hjartarson and Bj{\"o}rn Oddson are thanked for the logistical assistance. Finnur P{\'a}lsson is thanked for brief discussions on the ice volume changes during the 1972–73 and 1890 surges. The manuscript benefited from constructive comments from two anonymous reviewers.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.07.005",

language = "English",

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journal = "Geomorphology",

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T2 - Geomorphic impact of multiple surges

AU - Schomacker, Anders

AU - Benediktsson, Ívar Örn

AU - Ingólfsson, Ólafur

N1 - Funding Information: The Eyjabakkajökull project was generously funded by the University of Iceland Research Fund , the Landsvirkjun Energy Research Fund , the Icelandic Research Fund for Graduate Students , the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences , the Carlsberg Foundation , and the Research fund of the Fljótsdalshreppur municipality . Our sincere thanks go to our co-workers in the field 2006–2008: Mark D. Johnson, Jaap J.M. van der Meer, Hanna Lokrantz, Torbjörn Andersson, Amanda Ferguson, Eygló Ólafsdóttir, Skafti Brynjólfsson, Susi Ebmeier, Antje Herbrich, and Jón Björn Ólafsson. Rúnar Ingi Hjartarson and Björn Oddson are thanked for the logistical assistance. Finnur Pálsson is thanked for brief discussions on the ice volume changes during the 1972–73 and 1890 surges. The manuscript benefited from constructive comments from two anonymous reviewers.

PY - 2014/8/1

Y1 - 2014/8/1

N2 - A new glacial geomorphological map of the Eyjabakkajökull forefield in Iceland is presented. The map covers c. 60km2 and is based on high-resolution aerial photographs recorded in August 2008 as well as field checking. Landforms are manually registered in a geographical information system (ArcGIS) based on inspection of orthorectified imagery and digital elevation models of the area. We mapped subglacially streamlined landforms such as flutes and drumlins on the till plain, supraglacial landforms such as ice-cored moraine, pitted outwash, and concertina eskers, and ice-marginal landforms such as the large, multi-crested 1890 surge end moraine and smaller single-crested end moraines. The glaciofluvial landforms are represented by outwash plains, minor outwash fans, and sinuous eskers. Extramarginal sediments were also registered and consist mainly of old sediments in wetlands or locally weathered bedrock. Eyjabakkajökull has behaved as a surge-type glacier for 2200years; hence, the mapped landforms originate from multiple surges. Landforms such as large glaciotectonic end moraines, hummocky moraine, long flutes, crevasse-fill ridges, and concertina eskers are characteristic for surge-type glaciers. The surging glacier landsystem of Eyjabakkajökull serves as a modern analog to the landsystems of terrestrial paleo-ice streams.

AB - A new glacial geomorphological map of the Eyjabakkajökull forefield in Iceland is presented. The map covers c. 60km2 and is based on high-resolution aerial photographs recorded in August 2008 as well as field checking. Landforms are manually registered in a geographical information system (ArcGIS) based on inspection of orthorectified imagery and digital elevation models of the area. We mapped subglacially streamlined landforms such as flutes and drumlins on the till plain, supraglacial landforms such as ice-cored moraine, pitted outwash, and concertina eskers, and ice-marginal landforms such as the large, multi-crested 1890 surge end moraine and smaller single-crested end moraines. The glaciofluvial landforms are represented by outwash plains, minor outwash fans, and sinuous eskers. Extramarginal sediments were also registered and consist mainly of old sediments in wetlands or locally weathered bedrock. Eyjabakkajökull has behaved as a surge-type glacier for 2200years; hence, the mapped landforms originate from multiple surges. Landforms such as large glaciotectonic end moraines, hummocky moraine, long flutes, crevasse-fill ridges, and concertina eskers are characteristic for surge-type glaciers. The surging glacier landsystem of Eyjabakkajökull serves as a modern analog to the landsystems of terrestrial paleo-ice streams.

KW - Aerial photographs

KW - Eyjabakkajökull

KW - Glacial geomorphology

KW - Iceland

KW - Landsystem

KW - Surge-type glacier

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U2 - 10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.07.005

DO - 10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.07.005

M3 - Article

SN - 0169-555X

VL - 218

SP - 98

EP - 107

JO - Geomorphology

JF - Geomorphology

ER -

The Eyjabakkajökull glacial landsystem, Iceland: Geomorphic impact of multiple surges

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Other keywords

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