Surficial geology and geomorphology of the brúuarjökull surging glacier landsystem

Abstract

A 1:30,000 scale map poster of the snout and proglacial landscape of the surging Icelandic glacier Brúuarjökull, provides a spatial and temporal assessment of the geomorphic impacts of surging in glaciated terrains. Based upon aerial photography from 1998, 1999 and 2000, the map identifies the major landforms that are regarded as diagnostic of glacier surging when viewed in a landsystem framework; specifically, thrust block and push moraines, overridden thrust block moraines, zig-zag eskers, crevasse squeeze ridges, long flutings, hummocky moraine and ice-cored, pitted outwash. This landscape imprint, when identified in ancient glaciated terrains, can therefore be used as indicative of surge activity in palaeoglaciological reconstructions.