The glacial geomorphology of upper Godthåbsfjord (Nuup Kangerlua) in southwest Greenland

Pearce, D. M., Mair, D. W. F., Rea, B. R., Lea, J. M., Schofield, J. E., Kamenos, N. and Schoenrock, K. (2018) The glacial geomorphology of upper Godthåbsfjord (Nuup Kangerlua) in southwest Greenland. Journal of Maps, 14(2), pp. 45-55. (doi: 10.1080/17445647.2017.1422447)

Abstract

The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is known to have experienced widespread retreat over the last century. Information on outlet glacier dynamics, prior to this, are limited due to both a lack of observations and a paucity of mapped or mappable deglacial evidence which restricts our understanding of centennial to millennial timescale dynamics of the GrIS. Here we present glacial geomorphological mapping, for upper Godthåbsfjord, covering 5800 km2 at a scale of 1:92,000, using a combination of ASTER GDEM V2, a medium-resolution DEM (error <10 m horizontal and <6 m vertical accuracy), panchromatic orthophotographs and ground truthing. This work provides a detailed geomorphological assessment for the area, compiled as a single map, comprising of moraines, meltwater channels, streamlined bedrock, sediment lineations, ice-dammed lakes, trimlines, terraces, gullied sediment and marine limits. Whilst some of the landforms have been previously identified, the new information presented here improves our understanding of ice margin behaviour and can be used for future numerical modelling and landform dating programmes. Data also form the basis for palaeoglaciological reconstructions and contribute towards understanding of the centennial to millennial timescale record of this sector of the GrIS.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research project, Calving glaciers: Longterm validation and evidence (CALVE), was funded by the Leverhulme Trust under grant number RG-12099-10. JL would like to acknowledge the British Geomorphological Society and Quaternary Research Association for supporting fieldwork undertaken in 2015. DP would like to acknowledge the NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility for their equipment loan (GEF1049) as well as time and advice offered whilst in the field.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kamenos, Professor Nick and Schoenrock, Dr Kathryn
• Authors: Pearce, D. M., Mair, D. W. F., Rea, B. R., Lea, J. M., Schofield, J. E., Kamenos, N., and Schoenrock, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Maps
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1744-5647
• ISSN (Online): 1744-5647
• Published Online: 08 February 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Maps 14(2): 45-55
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License