Observations of debris-rich naled associated with a major glacier surge event, Disko Island, West Greenland

Glacier naled formation is associated with surge‐type glaciers both during active surging and in quiescence. During the 1995–98 surge of Kuannersuit Glacier, Disko Island, West Greenland, turbid winter runoff produced an extensive naled accretion with a distinct debris‐rich stratification. After sur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Permafrost and periglacial processes 2005-10, Vol.16 (4), p.319-325
Main Authors: Yde, Jacob Clement, Knudsen, N. Tvis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bgi / Prodig
Greenland
Hydrometeorology
naled
Nivology. Glaciology
Physical geography
surge-type glaciers
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Summary:Glacier naled formation is associated with surge‐type glaciers both during active surging and in quiescence. During the 1995–98 surge of Kuannersuit Glacier, Disko Island, West Greenland, turbid winter runoff produced an extensive naled accretion with a distinct debris‐rich stratification. After surge termination the summer occurrence of naledi gradually decreased and disappeared within 5 years. The fine‐grained debris was deposited on top of outwash deposits on bars and banks. Observations at the margin of surrounding glaciers revealed that only surge‐type glaciers in their quiescent phase had proglacial naled assemblages, although these lacked incorporated debris. This indicates that surge‐type glaciers have a significant impact on the occurrence of naledi primarily because their subglacial thermal conditions and water storage capacity allow significant winter runoff implying high hydraulic pressure on proglacial outwash plains. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:1045-6740
1099-1530
DOI:10.1002/ppp.533