Glaciología

Glaciares de Chile

Antártica

"Geomorphological evidence for variations of the North Patagonian Icefield during the Holocene"

Glasser, N.F., K.N. Jansson, S. Harrison, A. Rivera (2005) : “Geomorphological evidence for variations of the North Patagonian Icefield during the Holocene” Geomorphology, 71, 263-277.

Resumen / Abstract.

Elucidating the timing and extent of former glacier fluctuations is important because of the palaeoclimatic inferences that can be drawn from such studies. Here we present new geomorphological evidence of the patterns of glacier behaviour around the North Patagonian Icefield during the Holocene. Mapping is based on visual interpretation of Landsat7 ETM+ and Terra ASTER satellite images, including the contemporary glaciers, areas of ice-scoured bedrock, trimlines, glacial lineations, terminal moraines, sandur and fluvial sediments, deltas and ice-contact deposits and alluvial fans. Recession of the icefield is marked by three distinct moraine sets. These moraine sets are interpreted as marking terminal positions related to the “Little Ice Age” and two preceding, but as yet undated, phases of Holocene glacier expansion. Large arcuate terminal moraines in front of three of the western glaciers are interpreted as composite features, reflecting topographic limits to glacier expansion, indicating that caution is required in the interpretation of previous 14C dates obtained from these moraines. 

 

(descarga)