Glacial reconstruction of Rostu, northernmost Sweden, based on high-resolution geomorphological mapping
2023 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 40 credits / 60 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Reconstructing the evolution of former ice sheets has been a focus of research for over a century, and continental scale reconstructions of Fennoscandian and North American ice sheets serve as important analogues for the contemporary ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland. The development of high-resolution elevation models allows for geomorphological mapping in unprecedented detail, and, thus, represents a means to refine mapping of regions previously studied, providing further insight into the dynamics of paleo-ice sheets. This thesis presents an updated glacial geomorphological map of Rostu, in northernmost Sweden. A total of 7366 features were mapped, and by employing a glacial inversion model, used to perform a glacial reconstruction. Landform assemblages were grouped into swarms which, based on their geomorphological properties, were interpreted to represent distinct ice flow systems. By sorting the swarms into age stacks evidence of glacial events prior to the Late Weichselian glaciation were isolated and used to infer earlier ice sheet configurations. Additionally, traces of glacial lake extents and marginal landforms were used to interpret the pattern of the Late Weichselian deglaciation. A total of four lake systems were identified and, in combination with marginal moraines, meltwater channels, and evidence of ice flow direction, used to illustrate ice sheet retreat over the study area. Ice sheet thermal properties were assessed based on evidence of glacial and preserved glacial landscapes. The identification of a previously undocumented ice stream demonstrates the potential of using high-resolution mapping to refine glacial reconstructions and provide additional geomorphological constraints to inform ice sheet models. A temporal reconstruction was attempted based on published geochronological dates, however, the limited number of available, and reliable, dates made it difficult to ascertain a timing of deglaciation. Thus, further research, including dating of pre-Late Weichselian landforms, and Late Weichselian deglacial landforms is suggested.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2023. , p. 93
Keywords [en]
Glacial reconstruction, geomorphological mapping, LiDAR, glacial inversion model, geochronological dating, glacial lake
National Category
Physical Geography
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-239137OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-239137DiVA, id: diva2:1935325
Presentation
2023-06-09, 11:00 (English)
Supervisors
Examiners
2025-02-242025-02-062025-02-24Bibliographically approved