Quantifying periglacial erosion: Insights on a glacial sediment budget, Matanuska Glacier, Alaska

O'Farrell, C. R.; Heimsath, A. M.; Lawson, D. E.; Jorgensen, L. M.; Evenson, E. B.; Larson, G.; Denner, J.

Abstract:

Glacial erosion rates are estimated to be among the highest in the world. Few studies have attempted, however, to quantify the flux of sediment from the periglacial landscape to a glacier. Here, erosion rates from the nonglacial landscape above the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska are presented and compare with an 8-yr record of proglacial suspended sediment yield. Non-glacial lowering rates range from 1??8 ?? 0??5 mm yr^-1 to 8??5 ?? 3??4 mm yr^-1 from estimates of rock fall and debris-flow fan volumes. An average erosion rate of 0??08 ?? 0??04 mm yr^-1 from eight convex-up ridge crests was determined using in situ produced cosmogenic ¹⁰Be. Extrapolating these rates, based on landscape morphometry, to the Matanuska basin (58% ice-cover), it was found that nonglacial processes account for an annual sediment flux of 2??3 ?? 1??0 ?? 10⁶ t. Suspended sediment data for 8 years and an assumed bedload to estimate the annual sediment yield at the Matanuska terminus to be 2??9 ?? 1??0 ?? 10⁶ t, corresponding to an erosion rate of 1??8 ?? 0??6 mm yr^-1: nonglacial sources therefore account for 80 ?? 45% of the proglacial yield. A similar set of analyses were used for a small tributary sub-basin (32% ice-cover) to determine an erosion rate of 12??1 ?? 6??9 mm yr^-1, based on proglacial sediment yield, with the nonglacial sediment flux equal to 10 ?? 7% of the proglacial yield. It is suggested that erosion rates by nonglacial processes are similar to inferred subglacial rates, such that the ice-free regions of a glaciated landscape contribute significantly to the glacial sediment budget. The similar magnitude of nonglacial and glacial rates implies that partially glaciated landscapes will respond rapidly to changes in climate and base level through a rapid nonglacial response to glacially driven incision. ?? 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Genre:

Article

ProdID:

70035965

Citation Author:

O'Farrell, C. R.; Heimsath, A. M.; Lawson, D. E.; Jorgensen, L. M.; Evenson, E. B.; Larson, G.; Denner, J.

Citation Contributing Office:

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

2022

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

Citation LatN:

Citation LatS:

Citation LonE:

Citation LonW:

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Citation Publisher:

Citation Series:

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

Citation Search Results Text:

Quantifying periglacial erosion: Insights on a glacial sediment budget, Matanuska Glacier, Alaska; 2009; Article; Journal; Earth Surface Processes and Landforms; O‘Farrell, C. R.; Heimsath, A. M.; Lawson, D. E.; Jorgensen, L. M.; Evenson, E. B.; Larson, G.; Denner, J.