Arctic Unicorns and the Secret Sounds of a Glacial Fjord

The successful deployment of a seafloor seismometer near the calving front of a Greenland glacier has opened a new avenue to study hidden glacial processes and the behavior of fjord-dwelling wildlife.

Groundwater Lowering for Construction of the Kilsby Tunnel – Geological and Geotechnical Interpretation

The Kilsby Tunnel, constructed in the 1830s, faced severe problems when a section of the tunnel, almost 400 m long, encountered unstable ‘quicksand’ conditions. The engineer for the project, Robert Stephenson, developed an extensive groundwater lowering scheme, unique for the time, using steam engines pumping from multiple shafts, to overcome the quicksand. Modern geological information indicates most of the tunnel was in Middle Lias bedrock, but the ‘quicksand’ section passed through a buried channel of water-bearing sand of glacial origin. In the early 19th century the impact of glacial processes on British geology was not widely accepted and, based on contemporary geological knowledge, Stephenson’s problems appear to be genuine unforeseen ground conditions, not predicted by his experienced advisers. It seems just random chance that trial borings missed the buried channel of sand. The work at Kilsby was two decades before Darcy’s law established the theoretical understanding for groundwater flow, and 90 years before Terzaghi’s effective stress theory described how reducing pore water pressures changed ‘quicksand’ into a stable and workable material. Despite the lack of existing theories, Stephenson used careful observations and interpretation of groundwater flow in the ‘quicksand’ to navigate the tunnel project to a successful conclusion.

Seismic and Geodetic Observations of Accelerated Sliding at Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, New Zealand

<p>Rain-induced accelerations of Haupapa/Tasman Glacier are accompanied by abundant seismicity. This seismicity reveals some of the glacial processes occurring at times of accelerated glacier sliding and those related directly to surficial water inputs.To study the processes occurring during rain-induced accelerations a network of seismic and geodetic sensors was deployed on the lower Haupapa/Tasman Glacier for four months in 2016. Seven categories of seismicity were defined during the study period. Glacier source processes were inferred for these categories based on their waveform characteristics, and each source was then compared to meteoric and geodetic data to discern spatial and temporal relationships. Of the seven categories of seismicity only the seismic events associated with crevasse opening were found to correlate with rain rate. Increased crevassing rate likely results from two factors: 1) increased extensional strain rates following the propagation of a subglacial cavitation front during transient accelerations and 2) hydrofracture due to the accumulation of rain in crevasses. Strain-driven crevassing is associated only with glacier acceleration, but crevasse opening via hydrofracture is inferred to occur independently of strain changes such that it is an active process at any point following heavy rainfall. Basal seismicity was not observed to respond to changes in glacier velocity or inferred subglacial water pressure, although this may be due to limitations in the seismic event detection technique.</p>

Seismic and Geodetic Observations of Accelerated Sliding at Haupapa/Tasman Glacier, New Zealand

<p>Rain-induced accelerations of Haupapa/Tasman Glacier are accompanied by abundant seismicity. This seismicity reveals some of the glacial processes occurring at times of accelerated glacier sliding and those related directly to surficial water inputs.To study the processes occurring during rain-induced accelerations a network of seismic and geodetic sensors was deployed on the lower Haupapa/Tasman Glacier for four months in 2016. Seven categories of seismicity were defined during the study period. Glacier source processes were inferred for these categories based on their waveform characteristics, and each source was then compared to meteoric and geodetic data to discern spatial and temporal relationships. Of the seven categories of seismicity only the seismic events associated with crevasse opening were found to correlate with rain rate. Increased crevassing rate likely results from two factors: 1) increased extensional strain rates following the propagation of a subglacial cavitation front during transient accelerations and 2) hydrofracture due to the accumulation of rain in crevasses. Strain-driven crevassing is associated only with glacier acceleration, but crevasse opening via hydrofracture is inferred to occur independently of strain changes such that it is an active process at any point following heavy rainfall. Basal seismicity was not observed to respond to changes in glacier velocity or inferred subglacial water pressure, although this may be due to limitations in the seismic event detection technique.</p>

Characteristics of Striae and Clast Shape in Glacial and Non-Glacial Environments

<p>Linear abrasion features on rock surfaces are produced by interacting rock particles in relative motion. The most common examples are striae produced by temperate glaciers, and as a consequence, striae have long been used as a means of identifying the passage of past glaciers. However, there are many non-glacial processes that can produce striae. These have been sporadically documented in the geological literature but have failed to make a lasting impression on the wider Earth Sciences community. These non-glacial processes include tectonic deformation, meltwater flow, non-glacial ice, wind action, volcanic blasting, mass movements of rock debris, among many others. Many produce coarse-grained deposits similar in character to glacial tills and there are several instances where non-glacial deposits and striae have been misinterpreted as glacial in origin. This thesis examines linear abrasion features (mostly striae) from five different environments, three glacial (temperate, polythermal and cold) and two non-glacial environments (mass movement and tectonic) to characterise the striae from different origins. The aim was to assess if there are readily observable and measurable differences in striae character between environments and to develop field-based criteria that allow a sound judgement of their origin in the geological record. Over 760 measurements of individual striae were made (orientation and size) on around 20 representative clasts and characteristic features of about 50 striated clasts from the various environments are illustrated in an "Atlas of linear abrasion features". In addition clast shape and striae occurrence were measured on 1260 clasts from deposits and about 100 bedrock linear abrasions from a cold-based glacier were recorded. The results show that some striae are diagnostic of certain environments but a combination of clast shape and striae characteristics is the most reliable method of correctly interpreting coarse-grained deposits with striated clasts. Results also highlight the wide range of striae characteristics within each environment and the importance of lithology in striae generation. This is evident even within the well-known temperate glacial environment where there is a marked contrast between striae formed within a thick debris layer and those formed in thin debris-rich basal ice. There appears to be little difference in striae formed by temperate and polyhermal glaciers, but glacial striae are readily distinguishable from striae found in various mass movement deposits or tectonically deformed conglomerates. Glacial striae tend to be sub-parallel to the clast long axes and show a high density on individual surfaces, whereas those in non-glacial origin typically show a lower density of slightly shorter, wider striae and show either no preferred orientation or weak grouping. The survivability of glacial abrasion features of clasts once they have entered a fluvial system has been assessed in a small South Island glacier fed river. This has provided a basis for estimating the proximity of a glaciofluvial deposit to the glacier front. Striae are found to survive only 1 to 2 km and glacial facets are mostly removed within 6 km. The study has also documented previously undescribed linear abrasion features from a cold-based glacier in Antarctica. This discovery is a significant advance in understanding cold glacial processes, and has provided new criteria for recognising the passage of cold-based glaciers in polar areas or regions where cold-based ice may have existed in the past.</p>

Characteristics of Striae and Clast Shape in Glacial and Non-Glacial Environments

<p>Linear abrasion features on rock surfaces are produced by interacting rock particles in relative motion. The most common examples are striae produced by temperate glaciers, and as a consequence, striae have long been used as a means of identifying the passage of past glaciers. However, there are many non-glacial processes that can produce striae. These have been sporadically documented in the geological literature but have failed to make a lasting impression on the wider Earth Sciences community. These non-glacial processes include tectonic deformation, meltwater flow, non-glacial ice, wind action, volcanic blasting, mass movements of rock debris, among many others. Many produce coarse-grained deposits similar in character to glacial tills and there are several instances where non-glacial deposits and striae have been misinterpreted as glacial in origin. This thesis examines linear abrasion features (mostly striae) from five different environments, three glacial (temperate, polythermal and cold) and two non-glacial environments (mass movement and tectonic) to characterise the striae from different origins. The aim was to assess if there are readily observable and measurable differences in striae character between environments and to develop field-based criteria that allow a sound judgement of their origin in the geological record. Over 760 measurements of individual striae were made (orientation and size) on around 20 representative clasts and characteristic features of about 50 striated clasts from the various environments are illustrated in an "Atlas of linear abrasion features". In addition clast shape and striae occurrence were measured on 1260 clasts from deposits and about 100 bedrock linear abrasions from a cold-based glacier were recorded. The results show that some striae are diagnostic of certain environments but a combination of clast shape and striae characteristics is the most reliable method of correctly interpreting coarse-grained deposits with striated clasts. Results also highlight the wide range of striae characteristics within each environment and the importance of lithology in striae generation. This is evident even within the well-known temperate glacial environment where there is a marked contrast between striae formed within a thick debris layer and those formed in thin debris-rich basal ice. There appears to be little difference in striae formed by temperate and polyhermal glaciers, but glacial striae are readily distinguishable from striae found in various mass movement deposits or tectonically deformed conglomerates. Glacial striae tend to be sub-parallel to the clast long axes and show a high density on individual surfaces, whereas those in non-glacial origin typically show a lower density of slightly shorter, wider striae and show either no preferred orientation or weak grouping. The survivability of glacial abrasion features of clasts once they have entered a fluvial system has been assessed in a small South Island glacier fed river. This has provided a basis for estimating the proximity of a glaciofluvial deposit to the glacier front. Striae are found to survive only 1 to 2 km and glacial facets are mostly removed within 6 km. The study has also documented previously undescribed linear abrasion features from a cold-based glacier in Antarctica. This discovery is a significant advance in understanding cold glacial processes, and has provided new criteria for recognising the passage of cold-based glaciers in polar areas or regions where cold-based ice may have existed in the past.</p>

Formation Patterns of Mediterranean High-Mountain Water-Bodies in Sierra-Nevada, SE Spain

At present, there is a lack of detailed understanding on how the factors converging on water variables from mountain areas modify the quantity and quality of their watercourses, which are features determining these areas’ hydrological contribution to downstream regions. In order to remedy this situation to some extent, we studied the water-bodies of the western sector of the Sierra Nevada massif (Spain). Since thaw is a necessary but not sufficient contributor to the formation of these fragile water-bodies, we carried out field visits to identify their number, size and spatial distribution as well as their different modelling processes. The best-defined water-bodies were the result of glacial processes, such as overdeepening and moraine dams. These water-bodies are the highest in the massif (2918 m mean altitude), the largest and the deepest, making up 72% of the total. Another group is formed by hillside instability phenomena, which are very dynamic and are related to a variety of processes. The resulting water-bodies are irregular and located at lower altitudes (2842 m mean altitude), representing 25% of the total. The third group is the smallest (3%), with one subgroup formed by anthropic causes and another formed from unknown origin. It has recently been found that the Mediterranean and Atlantic watersheds of this massif are somewhat paradoxical in behaviour, since, despite its higher xericity, the Mediterranean watershed generally has higher water contents than the Atlantic. The overall cause of these discrepancies between watersheds is not connected to their formation processes. However, we found that the classification of water volumes by the manners of formation of their water-bodies is not coherent with the associated green fringes because of the anomalous behaviour of the water-bodies formed by moraine dams. This discrepancy is largely due to the passive role of the water retained in this type of water-body as it depends on the characteristics of its hollows. The water-bodies of Sierra Nevada close to the peak line (2918 m mean altitude) are therefore highly dependent on the glacial processes that created the hollows in which they are located. Slope instability created water-bodies mainly located at lower altitudes (2842 m mean altitude), representing tectonic weak zones or accumulation of debris, which are influenced by intense slope dynamics. These water-bodies are therefore more fragile, and their existence is probably more short-lived than that of bodies created under glacial conditions.

Imaging Floods and Glacier Geohazards with Remote Sensing

Geohazards associated with the dynamics of the liquid and solid water of the Earth’s hydrosphere, such as floods and glacial processes, may pose significant risks to populations, activities and properties [...]