Active Drumlin Field Revealed at the Margin of Múlajökull, Iceland: A Surge-Type Glacier

Schomacker, A., Johnson, M.D., Benediktsson, I.O., Ingolfsson, O., Geiger, A.J. and Ferguson, A. (2010) Active Drumlin Field Revealed at the Margin of Múlajökull, Iceland: A Surge-Type Glacier. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA USA, 13-17 Dec 2010.

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Abstract

Recent marginal retreat of Múlajökull, a surge-type, outlet glacier of the Hofsjökull ice cap, central Iceland, has revealed a drumlin field consisting of over 50 drumlins. The drumlins are 90-320 m long, 30-105 m wide, 5-10 m in relief, and composed of multiple beds of till deposited by lodgement and bed deformation. The youngest till layer truncates the older units with an erosion surface that parallels the drumlin form. Thus, the drumlins are built up and formed by a combination of subglacial depositional and erosional processes. Field evidence suggests each till bed to be associated with individual, recent surges. We consider the drumlin field to be active in the sense that the drumlins are shaped by the current glacial regime. The Múlajökull field is the only known active drumlin field and is, therefore, a unique analogue to Pleistocene drumlin fields.

Item Type:Conference or Workshop Item
Keywords:Surging, glaciology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, Iceland
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Geiger, Dr Alessa
Authors: Schomacker, A., Johnson, M.D., Benediktsson, I.O., Ingolfsson, O., Geiger, A.J., and Ferguson, A.
Subjects:G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
Q Science > QE Geology
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
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