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Glacial Geomorphology

Glacial Geomorphology. Importance of glaciers. Influence earth’s energy balance Major component of (fresh) water storage – affects sea level Important agent of landform evolution. Outline. Ice mechanics Climate history, cycles of glaciation Explanations for glacial cycles (climate change)

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Glacial Geomorphology

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  1. Glacial Geomorphology

  2. Importance of glaciers • Influence earth’s energy balance • Major component of (fresh) water storage – affects sea level • Important agent of landform evolution

  3. Outline • Ice mechanics • Climate history, cycles of glaciation • Explanations for glacial cycles (climate change) • Glacial influences on the landscape

  4. Ice Mechanics • http://www2.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/animations/ch18.htm

  5. Climate history Tree rings Sediment cores Ice Cores

  6. Temperature, moisture, fire reconstructions from tree rings Source: National Climate Data Center http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/ drought/drght_500years.html

  7. Vegetation reconstruction from sediment cores PINE FIR Source: Hall et al., 1994. http://www.ancientforest.org/rr4.html

  8. Climate reconstructions from ice cores

  9. Climate history

  10. Climate history Source: Christopherson, 2007. “Elemental Geosystems” Prentice Hall.

  11. Climate history

  12. Maximum glacial extent: North America

  13. Maximum glacial extent: Europe

  14. Explanations for glacial cycles • Plate tectonics • Volcanic eruptions • Astronomical cycles

  15. Plate Tectonics

  16. Tectonic effects • Exposes continents to varying climates • Alters ocean circulation patterns, heat transfer • Drives volcanism

  17. Volcanic eruptions Eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines in 1991

  18. Eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines in 1991

  19. Eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines in 1991

  20. Volcanic effects Atmosphere particulate loading: • Reduces incoming shortwave radiation • Traps longwave radiation

  21. Astronomical Cycles • http://www2.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/animations/ch18.htm Eccentricity 100,000 year cycle Precession 25,000 year cycle Obliquity 41,000 year cycle. “Milankovitch Cycles”

  22. Astronomical Cycles http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/classes/met130/notes/chapter16/graphics/71_Orbital_Fluctuations/A_71.html • Influences insolation over time

  23. Glacial influences on the landscape

  24. IG4e_19_16

  25. IG4e_19_05b IG4e_19_05b

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