Glacier-Permafrost Interactions

Richard I. Waller is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at Keele University (United Kingdom).

• Author Biography xPreface xiAcknowledgements xiii1 Introduction 11.1 Research Context and Academic Background 11.2 Overview of the Significance of Glacier–Permafrost Interactions 31.3 Explanation of the Book Structure 6References 72 Permafrost in Modern and Ancient Glacial Environments 92.1 Introduction 92.2 Thermal and Physical Properties 92.2.1 Defining Characteristics 92.2.2 Water in Permafrost 122.2.3 Ground Ice 152.3 The Formation and Preservation of Permafrost 192.3.1 Subaerial Permafrost 192.3.2 Subglacial Permafrost 212.4 The Distribution and Spatial Extent of Permafrost 262.4.1 The Modern Day and Last Glacial Maximum Distribution of Permafrost 262.4.2 The Spatial Distribution of Contemporary Permafrost 272.4.3 Temporal Changes in the Extent of Subglacial Permafrost 342.5 Permafrost Rheology 372.5.1 The Rheology of Ice, Sediment and Ice–Sediment Mixtures 372.5.2 The Rheology of Subglacial Permafrost 442.6 Summary 45References 463 Glaciers and Glacial Processes in Permafrost Environments 533.1 Introduction 533.2 Thermal Regimes of Glaciers and Permafrost 543.3 Basal Boundary Conditions and Processes 603.3.1 Introduction 603.3.2 Rigid-Bed Glaciers and Basal Sliding 623.3.3 Soft-Bed Glaciers and Subglacial Sediment Deformation 633.4 ‘Frozen Beds’ and Traditional Glaciological Models 653.4.1 Frozen Beds and the Operation of Basal Processes 653.4.2 Thermal Controls on the Processes of Subglacial Erosion 673.5 Active Subglacial Processes at Sub-Freezing Temperatures – An Emerging Paradigm? 713.5.1 Early Experimental Studies 713.5.2 Direct Observations of Basal Processes Beneath Cold-Based Glaciers 723.5.3 Active Erosion and Debris Entrainment at Sub-Freezing Temperatures 753.5.4 Formation of Debris-Rich Basal Ice 783.5.5 Effective Beds and Dynamic Soles – Insights from Formerly Glaciated Environments 863.6 Ice-Marginal and Proglacial Processes 893.6.1 Introduction 893.6.2 Apron Entrainment 893.6.3 Proglacial Thrusting 923.6.4 The Deposition and Preservation of Ice Within Proglacial Environments 943.7 Summary 96References 974 Hydrology, Dynamics and Sediment Fluxes 1074.1 Introduction 1074.2 The Hydrology of Non-Temperate Glaciers 1074.2.1 Introduction 1074.2.2 Seasonal Variations 1094.2.3 Drainage Pathways 1144.2.4 Suspended-Sediment and Solute Fluxes 1204.2.5 Glacial Groundwater Fluxes in Permafrost Environments 1254.3 The Dynamic Behaviour of Non-Temperate Glaciers 1324.3.1 Introduction 1324.3.2 Modern-Day Non-Temperate Glaciers 1334.3.3 Ice-Sheet Flow and Ice-Stream Dynamics 1444.3.4 Pleistocene Ice Sheets and Cold-Based Ice 1484.4 Sediment Fluxes Within Glaciated Permafrost Catchments 1494.5 Summary 155References 1575 The Landscape Expression of Glacier–Permafrost Interactions: Landforms, Sediments and Landsystems 1635.1 Introduction 1635.2 Cold-Based Glaciers and Glacial Protectionism 1645.3 Specific Landforms Related to Cold-Based Glaciers and Glacier–Permafrost Interactions 1735.3.1 Lateral Meltwater Channels 1735.3.2 End Moraines 1765.3.2.1 Ice-Cored Moraines 1785.3.2.2 Push Moraines, Thrust Moraines and Composite Ridges 1835.3.3 Subglacial Landforms 1895.3.4 Massive Ground Ice 1955.3.5 Icings, Pingos and Blowouts 2005.4 Sedimentological and Structural Evidence for Glacier–Permafrost Interactions 2035.4.1 The Influence of Thermal Regime on the Sedimentology of Glacigenic Debris 2035.4.2 Rafts, Intraclasts and Hydrofractures 2095.4.3 The Glacitectonic Deformation of Permafrost 2135.5 Glacial Landsystem Models 2225.5.1 Process-Form Models and Glacial Landsystems 2225.5.2 Pleistocene Ice Sheets 2265.5.3 Arctic Glacial Landsystems 2355.5.4 Cold Extremes – Antarctic Glacial Landsystems 2385.5.5 Martian Landsystems 2425.6 Glaciers, Permafrost and Paraglaciation 2465.6.1 Introduction 2465.6.2 Rock Slope Failure 2505.6.3 Thermokarst, Dead Ice and Megaslumps 2535.7 Summary 262References 2656 Future Research Directions 2796.1 Basal Boundary Conditions and Processes Beneath Cold-Based Glaciers 2796.2 The Rheology of Subglacial Permafrost 2816.3 Using Geomorphological Evidence to Reconstruct Basal Thermal Regime 2836.4 Sedimentological and Structural Criteria for Identifying Glacier–Permafrost Interactions 2856.5 Determining the Influence of Permafrost on Glacier Dynamics 2886.6 Glacier–Permafrost Interactions and Future Climate Change 2906.7 Towards an Integrated Analysis of Glaciers and Permafrost 293References 294Index 301