Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss Alps
The internal structures of a moraine complex mostly provide information about the manner in which they develop and thus they can transmit details about several processes long after they have taken place. While the occurrence of glacier–permafrost interactions during the formation of large thrust mor...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/6/205 |
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| author | Julius Kunz Christof Kneisel |
| author_facet | Julius Kunz Christof Kneisel |
| author_sort | Julius Kunz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The internal structures of a moraine complex mostly provide information about the manner in which they develop and thus they can transmit details about several processes long after they have taken place. While the occurrence of glacier–permafrost interactions during the formation of large thrust moraine complexes at polar and subpolar glaciers as well as at marginal positions of former ice sheets has been well understood, their role in the formation of moraines on comparatively small alpine glaciers is still very poorly investigated. Therefore, the question arises as to whether evidence of former glacier–permafrost interactions can still be found in glacier forefields of small alpine glaciers and to what extent these differ from the processes in finer materials at larger polar or subpolar glaciers. To investigate this, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out in the area of a presumed alpine thrust moraine complex in order to investigate internal moraine structures. The ERT data confirmed the presence of a massive ice core within the central and proximal parts of the moraine complex. Using GPR, linear internal structures were detected, which were interpreted as internal shear planes due to their extent and orientation. These shear planes lead to the assumption that the moraine complex is of glaciotectonic origin. Based on the detected internal structures and the high electrical resistivity values, it must also be assumed that the massive ice core is of sedimentary or polygenetic origin. The combined approach of the two methods enabled the authors of this study to detect different internal structures and to deduce a conceptual model of the thrust moraine formation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6226fe04c594ef3b05fdeae7dacb3b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6226fe04c594ef3b05fdeae7dacb3b72023-11-20T01:57:59ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632020-05-0110620510.3390/geosciences10060205Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss AlpsJulius Kunz0Christof Kneisel1Institute for Geography and Geology, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, GermanyInstitute for Geography and Geology, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, GermanyThe internal structures of a moraine complex mostly provide information about the manner in which they develop and thus they can transmit details about several processes long after they have taken place. While the occurrence of glacier–permafrost interactions during the formation of large thrust moraine complexes at polar and subpolar glaciers as well as at marginal positions of former ice sheets has been well understood, their role in the formation of moraines on comparatively small alpine glaciers is still very poorly investigated. Therefore, the question arises as to whether evidence of former glacier–permafrost interactions can still be found in glacier forefields of small alpine glaciers and to what extent these differ from the processes in finer materials at larger polar or subpolar glaciers. To investigate this, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out in the area of a presumed alpine thrust moraine complex in order to investigate internal moraine structures. The ERT data confirmed the presence of a massive ice core within the central and proximal parts of the moraine complex. Using GPR, linear internal structures were detected, which were interpreted as internal shear planes due to their extent and orientation. These shear planes lead to the assumption that the moraine complex is of glaciotectonic origin. Based on the detected internal structures and the high electrical resistivity values, it must also be assumed that the massive ice core is of sedimentary or polygenetic origin. The combined approach of the two methods enabled the authors of this study to detect different internal structures and to deduce a conceptual model of the thrust moraine formation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/6/205mountain permafrostglacier–permafrost interactionthrust morainenear surface geophysics |
| spellingShingle | Julius Kunz Christof Kneisel Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss Alps Geosciences mountain permafrost glacier–permafrost interaction thrust moraine near surface geophysics |
| title | Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss Alps |
| title_full | Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss Alps |
| title_fullStr | Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss Alps |
| title_short | Glacier–Permafrost Interaction at a Thrust Moraine Complex in the Glacier Forefield Muragl, Swiss Alps |
| title_sort | glacier permafrost interaction at a thrust moraine complex in the glacier forefield muragl swiss alps |
| topic | mountain permafrost glacier–permafrost interaction thrust moraine near surface geophysics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/10/6/205 |
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