The marine record of the Russell Fiord outburst flood, Alaska, U.S.A

Annals of Glaciology
By: , and 

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Abstract

The advance of Hubbard Glacier, near Yakutat, Alaska, U.S.A., in spring 1986 blocked the entrance to Russell Fiord with an ice-and-sediment dam, behind which a lake formed. The water level in Russell Lake rose to 25.5 m a.s.l. The dam catastrophically failed in October 1986, releasing 5.4 km3 of water into Disenchantment Bay. High-resolution seismic-reflection profiles show a 7.5 km long channel system cut into and buried by glacimarine sediment, represented by continuous, parallel reflections. The chaotic seismic facies filling the channel is interpreted to be debris flow deposits. A gravity core from channel-overbank deposits contained sandy diamicton with mud clasts. Above the channel a 1-2 m thick sediment drape extends across the bay. Laminated mud, fining-upward sand beds and diamicton were recovered from this unit. The sediment-drape deposits were produced by suspension settling from turbid plumes and non-channelized turbidity currents generated by the outburst flood.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The marine record of the Russell Fiord outburst flood, Alaska, U.S.A
Series title Annals of Glaciology
DOI 10.3189/1996AoG22-1-194-199
Volume 22
Year Published 1996
Language English
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Description 6 p.
First page 194
Last page 199
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Disenchantment Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Russell Fjord, Russell Lake
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