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The Tekapo Glacier, New Zealand, during the Last Glacial Maximum: An active temperate glacier influenced by intermittent surge activity

Sutherland, Jenna L.; Carrivick, Jonathan L.; Evans, David J.A.; Shulmeister, James; Quincey, Duncan J.

The Tekapo Glacier, New Zealand, during the Last Glacial Maximum: An active temperate glacier influenced by intermittent surge activity Thumbnail


Authors

Jenna L. Sutherland

Jonathan L. Carrivick

James Shulmeister

Duncan J. Quincey



Abstract

Quaternary glaciations have created impressive landform assemblages that can be used to understand palaeo-glacier extent, character and behaviour, and hence past global and local glacier forcings. However, in the southern hemisphere and especially in New Zealand, the Quaternary glacial landform record is relatively poorly investigated with regard to glaciological properties. In this study, a 1 m digital elevation model (DEM) was generated from airborne LiDAR data and supplemented with aerial imagery and field observations to analyse the exceptionally well-preserved glacial geomorphology surrounding Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. We describe a rich suite of Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and recessional ice-marginal, subglacial, supraglacial, glaciofluvial and glaciolacustrine landform assemblages. These represent two landsystems comprising i) fluted till surfaces with low-relief push moraine ridges; and ii) crevasse-squeeze ridges, ‘zig-zag’ eskers and attenuated lineations. The former landsystem records the behaviour of an active temperate glacier and the latter landsystem, which is superimposed upon and inset within the former, strongly suggests intermittent surge phases. The two landsystem signatures indicate a sequential change in ice-marginal dynamics during recession that was likely to have been partially non-climatically driven. Overall, we present the first evidence of surge-type glacier behaviour in New Zealand.

Citation

Sutherland, J. L., Carrivick, J. L., Evans, D. J., Shulmeister, J., & Quincey, D. J. (2019). The Tekapo Glacier, New Zealand, during the Last Glacial Maximum: An active temperate glacier influenced by intermittent surge activity. Geomorphology, 343, 183-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.07.008

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 16, 2019
Online Publication Date Jul 21, 2019
Publication Date Oct 1, 2019
Deposit Date Jul 23, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Geomorphology
Print ISSN 0169-555X
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 343
Pages 183-210
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.07.008

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