Slidingbed.pptVIP

A2.3GQ3 Glacial and Quaternary Geology LECTURE 6 SLIDING BED FEATURES OVERVIEW Introduction Subglacial surfaces Subglacial erosion Subglacial deposition Glaciotectonic structures Introduction ‘Sliding bed’ refers to those glaciers that move in part by basal sliding. If the bed is of low strength it may become deformed by this motion and some movement may thus occur within the bed itself. This is usually the case when the bed is impermeable (e.g. clays) and subglacial water pressure is high. Sliding bed glaciers show two major differences from frozen bed glaciers: Lowered surface slope Increased flow rate These both result from their lower basal shear stress as compared with a frozen bed glacier. In an extreme case the glacier may surge, so producing an unsustainable discharge for a limited period. Streamlined surfaces Sliding bed glaciers produce a number of characteristic landforms, many of which are streamlined in the direction of flow. These landforms may be constructed from a variety of materials, predominantly subglacial lodgement till. They also produce ice-frontal features by squeezing or pushing. These were described in an earlier lecture. Lodgement till surfaces show a hierarchy of streamlined forms that are generically termed drumlinoid (true drumlins are an end-member). They are essentially mobile bedforms, analogous to ripples and dunes, that are controlled by ice dynamics and till rheology. Erosional forms on hard substrates are also streamlined in their upflow direction. The down flow direction is usually broken by cavitation and stress-release. Lodgement till surfaces exposed in front of modern glaciers also show secondary flutings. These are usually created by flow into a cavity in the lee of an obstruction such as a boulder. Once initiated they become self-generating. Deposition from sliding ice Deposition takes place by three groups of processes: Frictional lodgement (produces lodgement till) Melt-out (produces melt-out till) Tractive def