The Cordilleran Ice Sheet and the glacial geomorphology of southern and central British Columbia

Abstract

Reviews the current state of knowledge about the Cordilleran Ice Sheet in southern and central British Columbia. Reconstructions of the ice sheet and the styles of ice expansion and deglaciation are based on extensive and varied glacigenic sediments and landforms that date from Late Wisconsinan (Fraser) Glaciation. Late-glacial lakes and sea level changes are also described and related to isostatic and eustatic effects. The timing of ice expansion and recession during Fraser Glaciation was markedly asymmetric: ice build-up commenced about 29 000 yr BP, culminated between 14 500 and 14 000 yr BP, and deglaciation was largely completed by 11 500 yr BP. Most of this interval appears to have been dominated by montane glaciation, which produced striking erosional landforms. -from Authors