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Glacier outburst floods and outwash development: Skei ara rsandur, B. Gomez1*, L.C. Smith2, F.J. Magilligan3, L.A.K. Mertes4 and N.D. Smith5 1Geomorphology Laboratory, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, U.S.A., 2Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, U.S.A., 3Department of Geography, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, U.S.A., 4Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, U.S.A., 5Department of Geosciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68508, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Outwash , such as Skei ara rsandur, serve as prototypes for from the conditions that prevailed when the ice front was facies and analogs for the Mars Pathfinder and coupled to the sandur, and the November 5±6 1996 outburst Viking 1 landing sites on the margins of the Chryse Basin. flood from Skei ara rjoÈ kull had little impact on the proximal outburst floods (joÈ kulhlaups) have generated some of the largest surface of Skei ara rsandur beyond the confines of the known terrestrial freshwater flows and recent studies suggest entrenched channels that traverse it. Thus, the point-source that the stratigraphyof outwash plains (sandur) is dominated by dispersal system on Skei ara rsandur maynot provide an exact sedimentarysequences laid down during joÈ kulhlaups, rather than analogue for the pattern of meltwater dispersal responsible for bybraided river facies produced byan -related flow the assemblage laid down during past joÈ kulhlaups, and regime. The modern point-source drainage configuration on caution maybe required when comparing conditions on Skei ara rsandur evolved from a diffuse, multipoint distributary Skei ara rsandur to those presumed to have been experienced system during glacier retreat, when meltwater began to be during massive outburst floods elsewhere. routed parallel to the ice front. The contemporarypattern of water and sediment dispersal across Skei ara rsandur differs Terra Nova, 12, 126±131, 2000

the November 1996 joÈ kulhlaup on dukvõ sl and Seluhu sskvisl, are acti- Introduction Skeiðara rsandur (Figs 1 and 2), pro- vated during joÈ kulhlaups when water Distributary channels on outwash vide a synoptic perspective of the drai- ponds in the proglacial zone. plains, or sandur, are employed as pro- nage network during a large glacier The proglacial zone behind the term- totypes of braided river systems, and outburst flood. This data, together inal complex is widest in the information about and with information derived from the lit- west, where a *1 km wide, CË 25 m deep lithofacies, derived from studies of active erature, sequential aerial photographs ice-marginal depression developed be- sandur, underpins depositional models (1945±97) and a postevent field sur- tween 1931 and 1960 (Fig. 2). The ice of braided alluvium (Rust, 1978). Pat- vey, allow us to develop a conceptual front is CË 15 m lower than the proximal terns of and deposition on san- model to illustrate how the geometry sandur surface, except along Skeiðar- dur also provide analogs for the Martian of the proglacial drainage system has a rjoÈ kull's east-central margin. The surface in the vicinity of the Viking 1 and developed over time. moraine complex also becomes topo- Mars Pathfinder landing sites (Rice and graphically less distinct toward the east, where it is being overridden. No term- Edgett, 1997). Glacier outburst floods, Study area or joÈ kulhlaups, have generated some of inal moraine is preserved beyond the largest known terrestrial freshwater Skeiðara rsandur has an area of 1350 Skeiðara rjoÈ kull's eastern margin, flows,and in locales where large volumes km2 and is the largest active glacial where the ice-marginal depression is of sediment are flushed from beneath on Earth. It is being CË 250 m wide and CË 14 m deep. An they are instrumental in creating constructed by braided rivers that ema- incised braided channel system is pre- outwash plains, or sandur. Sandur ap- nate from Skeiðara rjoÈ kull, an outlet served on the T3 surface east of the ice- pear to be dominated by laid glacier on the southern margin of the marginal depression. Further west, down during joÈ kulhlaups rather than by VatnajoÈ kull (Fig. 1). Meltwater where the moraine complex is present, braided river facies (Maizels, 1991, emerges through numerous subglacial the T3 surface comprises an apron of 1997). However, field observations have tunnels at the ice front (Rist, 1955; small, coalescing, coarse-grained out- focused on the ablation-related flow re- Churski, 1973). Three large braided wash fans that merge with the sandur gime (cf. Boothroyd and Nummedal, stream systems channel water and sedi- surface at a point CË 4 km beyond the 1978), and little is known about how ment from the glacier onto Skeiðara r- gaps from which the feeder channels the meltwater dispersal system functions sandur (Figs 1 and 2). The Skeiðara and emerge (Klimek, 1973). during joÈ kulhlaups. Nu psvoÈ tn rivers route run off from the Active channels beyond the progla- Satellite synthetic aperture radar glacier margins directly onto the san- cial zone are entrenched and bordered (SAR) images and aerial photographs dur. The Gõ gjukvõ sl River is fed by by a sequence of three terraces. The acquired immediately after and during meltwater from the central and west- (highest) T3 terrace surface lies be- central sections of Skeiðara rjoÈ kull, tween 13 and 20 m above the floors of which collects in the proglacial zone these channels (Fig. 2). The active *Correspondence. before being routed on to the sandur. channel area of the Skeiðara ,NuÂps- E-mail: [email protected] Overflow channels, such as the Ha oÈ l- voÈ tn, and Gõ gjukvõ sl rivers becomes

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the Gõ gjukvõ sl River is lower than that of: (i) the Skeiðara Rivers (whose melt- water sources are not buffered by the ice-marginal drainage system); (ii) the slope of the main ice-marginal channel within the proglacial zone (where much coarse sediment was deposited); and (iii) the slope of the T3 terrace surface which was active when the ice front was coupled to the sandur (Fig. 4). Despite the high discharge and although the Ha oÈ ldukvõ sl and Selu- hu sskvisl overflow channels were acti- vated, only CË 24% of the proximal zone was inundated (Figs 2 and 3). In effect, the entrenched channels permitted the event to bypass the proximal zone. The geometry of the distributary channels, patterns of erosion and deposition, and presence of inactive surfaces in the proximal zone during the 1996 outburst flood, thus contrast with the historical and stratigraphic evidence for a com- plex braided channel network and sys- tem of coalescing outwash fans coupled to the ice margin (Churski, 1973; Mai- zels, 1991), and require explanation.

Fig. 1 ERS-2 SAR intensity (backscatter) image of Skeiðara rsandur, acquired on November 7 1996. The maximum extent of the outbust flood is indicated by high levels of Proglacial drainage evolution radar backscatter, which are probably caused by enhanced surface moisture levels and/ In the case of glaciers flowing over an or frozen floodwater. Flow across the sandur is from North to South. Meltwater supplied from the point-source distributary system can be seen to spread out over an unlithified sediment bed, the potential increasingly large area down-sandur once the channels that traverse the proximal zone, for evacuating large amounts of sedi- which are incised 13 and 20 m below the highest T3 terrace surface (delineated by low ment from beneath the ice front in- levels of radar backscatter), merge with the sandur surface. N = NuÂpsvoÈ tn, creases during joÈ kulhlaups, when the G=Gõ gjukvõ sl, and Sk = Skeiðara rivers. H = Ha oÈ ldukvõ sl and S = Seluhu sskvisl flow in the vicinity of the ice margin is overflow channels. The dashed rectangle delimits the detail of the proximal zone and ice- dispersed across the bed (Rist, 1955; marginal depression shown in Fig. 2. BjoÈ rnsson, 1998). By contrast, during surges, basal drainage beneath Skeiðar- a rjoÈ kull occurs through a distributed progressively wider and less well-de- In two days CË 3.8 km3 of water drained network of passageways (BjoÈ rnsson, fined down-sandur. A complex system from Grõ msvoÈ tn. The cumulative peak 1998). At times when the position of of shifting braid channels develops discharge was CË 4.5 6 104 m3 s71 the ice margin is relatively stable, the within 3±8 km from the ice front, as (Snorrason et al., 1997). Field survey removal of sediment by repeated joÈ - the channels merge with the sandur and correlation mapping using tempor- kulhlaups, in combination with peri- surface, and in the distal zone the flow al sequences of SAR images revealed odic surges, may facilitate lowering of is transformed into a shallow, discon- that during the 1996 joÈ kulhlaup, pat- the ice front and the elevation of melt- tinuous sheet of water. When the three terns of erosion and deposition in the water outlets (Jo nsson, 1955; Gustava- river systems merge during high flows, proglacial zone were highly localized son and Boothroyd, 1987). Once the the intermediate and distal portions of (Russell et al., 1999; Gomez et al.in base of the glacier drops below the Skeiðara rsandur are almost comple- press; Smith et al. 2000). The ice-mar- elevation of the proximal sandur sur- tely inundated (Figs 1 and 3). ginal depression and ice-parallel drai- face, meltwater which previously flo- The largest outburst floods on nage network also regulate the size of wed directly onto the sandur is diverted Skeiðara rsandur are associated with the sediment supplied to the proximal parallel to the ice front. Evidence that volcanic eruptions beneath VatnajoÈ kull portion of the sandur. This engenders a erosion (rather than a drop in the rate (BjoÈ rnsson, 1988). They usually start in corresponding change in the slope of of deposition, or aggradation and the the Skeiðara River, although at their the rivers that traverse the proximal construction of a high relief proximal peak meltwater emerges from multiple zone, which occurs in the absence of surface during the time the glacier was outlets along the 28 km wide ice front any change in the meltwater flow or coupled to the sandur) precipitated the (Rist, 1955). The November 1996 joÈ - sediment supply regimes. The bed ma- change in the elevation of the ice front kulhlaup was conspicuous for its short terial fines rapidly with increasing dis- and was responsible for the formation duration and extraordinary magnitude. tance from the ice front and the slope of of the depression is provided by the T2

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and T1 terrace surfaces, which border all the incised channels that traverse the proximal zone and are also present within the ice marginal depression. Channels in the proximal zone that are not regulated by proglacial lakes respond to variations in the rate of glacier recession and sudden changes in the elevation of meltwater outlets around the ice margin by downcutting. Downcutting may be initiated by joÈ - kulhlaups and occur in a stepwise man- Â sskvisl overflow channel during the ner as the glacier recedes, or by the alternation of debris and water across a fan surface (Hooke, 1967; Thompson

 sskvisl overflow channel are highlighted by the and Jones, 1986). It will be amplified by disturbances to the fan-source system, or by floods that exceed the threshold for channel entrenchment and, at times sl River and Seluhu Â

 sskvisl overflow channels are indicated by H and S, and the when active sliding cannot be sus- tained, may be encouraged by the pre- gjukvõ  sence of a tunnel drainage system that focuses subglacial drainage lines on a

sl and Seluhu few outlets. There is also a commensu- Â sl River (G), which conveyed about 60% of the total volume of floodwater,

 rate drop in the level of the ground- water table beneath the sandur that ldukvõ È o  modifies the runoff system, and helps gjukvõ  isolate channels on the proximal sur- face by shifting the point at which effluent seepage contributes to the braided distributary system downslope rivers. The Ha

 (Churski, 1973). The potentiometric

ara surface is lowered further as the ice ð front thins during periods of glacier retreat. In this manner we envisage that the diffuse, multipoint distributary sys- tem on the proximal portion of Skeiðar- a rsandur (cf. Rist, 1955) was gradually sl, and Sk = Skei  transformed into the contemporary, integrated proglacial drainage network

gjukvõ that is dominated by a few major out- Â lets flowing through prominent topo- ., 1999). Inactive braided channels on the T3 terrace surface West of the Seluhu graphic lows (Fig. 5). National Land Survey of Iceland. et al

# Our interpretation of the sequence of tn, G = Gõ

È proglacial drainage differs from that proposed for neighbouring outlet gla- Â psvo ciers (Price and Howarth, 1970; Thompson, 1988), and other locales

., 1997; Russell where rivers in the proglacial zone have been dammed or diverted by Little Ice et al Age deposits. This is because we do not consider that the change from a diffuse to an integrated distributary system is conditional upon the presence of a (Snorrason

1 complex. The disin- 7 s tegration of the diffuse, multipoint dis- 3

m tributary system may have been facili- 4 tated by the development of the system 10

6 of high capacity subglacial tunnels that

The ice margin, flooded ice-marginal depression (D), and proximal sandur (T3 terrace) surface between the Gõ currently focus drainage on a few out- Ë 1.9 lets and are maintained at times when kulhlaup (11 : 45, November 6 1996). N = Nu È active sliding does not occur (BjoÈ rns- light snow cover. Compiled from aerial photographs Fig. 2 was C jo approximate position of the ice front in 1749 and 1890 by terminal . The peak discharge in the Gõ

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Terra Nova, Vol 12, No. 3, 126±131 Glacier outburst floods and outwash plain development . B. Gomez et al...... son, 1998). The terminal moraine com- plex also helped direct runoff parallel to the ice front (Galon, 1973). However, we believe the crucial factor affecting the evolution of the contemporary ice- marginal drainage system in front of Skeiðara rjoÈ kull is the behaviour of the ice front; specifically the lowering of the glacier bed below the elevation of the proximal sandur surface. Once in- itiated, the topographic discontinuity prevents meltwater from flowing di- rectly onto the proximal surface, re- gardless of whether flow beneath the Fig. 3 Cumulative percent of Skeiðara rsandur inundated by meltwater or remaining dry ice margin is dispersed or focused on a during the November 5±6 joÈ kulhlaup estimated from the ERS-2 SAR intensity image of few outlets, and even during joÈ kulhla- Skeiðara rsandur, acquired November 7, 1996 (Fig. 1). ups runoff continues to be diverted parallel to the ice front (Figs 2 and 5). There are several indicators of the channel. The Gõ gjukvõÂsl River and nu- course through the terminal moraine timing of the adjustment. Tho rarinsson merous other topographic lows in the complex during the earlier 1945 joÈ kulh- (1939) noted that although the active moraine complex were fully functional laup (Rist, 1955). The pattern of glacier sandur surface began directly in front of as overflow channels, routing water and retreat from the late C19 moraines in Skeiðara rjoÈ kull it was CË 15 m higher sediment directly on to the sandur sur- front of Skeiðara rjoÈ kull is replicated than the glacier bed; some of the dis- face beyond the 1890 moraine. JoÈ kulh- throughout south-east Iceland, and aer- tributary channels on the T3 surface laups that occurred in 1945 and 1954 ial photographs show that Skeiðara rjoÈ - were also still active in 1945 (Churski, likely encouraged the development of kull retreated 0.5±1.5 km in the period 1973). At that time, the ice front was an integrated proglacial drainage sys- 1945±60. KrigstroÈ m (1962) reported located CË 1 km behind the 1890 mor- tem. During the 1954 event, a coherent that groundwater supported a steam aine, several proglacial lakes were in ice-marginal drainage system routed system beyond the western margin of evidence behind the moraine complex, floodwater originating from beneath terminal moraine complex, but by 1960 and a rudimentary lateral ice-marginal the centre section of Skeiðara rjoÈ kull a completely integrated, ice-marginal drainage system had been established along the ice front and into the GõÂgjuk- drainage system that directed flow to that routed flow to the Ha oÈ ldukvõ sl võ sl River, which assumed its present the Skeiðara ,GõÂgjukvõ sl and Nu psvoÈ tn

Fig. 4 Variation in average max- imum particle size (derived from pebble counts) with distance from the ice margin on the associated with the major subgla- cial outlet at the ice margin to the north-east of the Ha oÈ ldukvõ sl over- flow channel (see Fig. 2 for loca- tion). Inset: variation of slope with average maximum particle size for the T3 terrace surface between the Ha oÈ ldukvõ sl and Seluhu sskvisl overflow channels, the outwash fan, the Skeiðara River, the ice- marginal channel (IMC) down- stream from the fan, and the Gõ gjukvõ sl River.

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posit their sediment load on the distal portions of the sandur, in a predictable pattern downstream (cf. Boothroyd and Nummedal, 1978). Maizels (1991, 1997) has argued that sandur are dominated by sedimentary sequences laid down during joÈ kulhlaups rather than by braided river facies generated by an ablation-related flow regime, but the vertical lithofacies succession appar- ently reflects past conditions when the ice front was coupled to the sandur and a diffuse, multipoint meltwater distri- butary system supplied water and sedi- ment to numerous coarse-grained out- wash fans in the proximal zone (cf. Churski, 1973). Moreover, because coarse sediment is filtered out by chan- nelized flows in the proglacial zone (Fig. 4), the development of a point-source dispersal system may give the appear- ance of increasingly distal conditions at any given locale in the proximal zone (cf. Maizels, 1997). Observations of contemporary sedi- ments and processes inevitably are used as analogues for ancient deposits. How- ever, the hypothetical alluvial sequences generated for the proximal zone of Skeiðara rsandur suggest that the pre- vious pattern of sediment dispersal Fig. 5 Model for the metamorphosis of a distributed meltwater drainage system, beyond across the sandur differs from the sedi- an initially stagnant, then retreating, ice front into a point-source network (see text for ment assemblage in the contemporary details). Stippled arrows signify active channels and open arrows overflow channels. (A) braided river systems. This is because Glacier is coupled to the sandur and meltwater is routed directly on to the proximal the channels in the proglacial zone af- sandur surface through a diffuse network of distributary channels. (B) Beneath a fect both the flow regime and spatial stagnant ice front, evacuation of sediment by meltwater under hydrostatic pressure extent of discharge on to the sandur, creates an ice-marginal depression and lowers the elevation of the ice front. As the base and influence patterns of erosion and of the glacier drops below the elevation of the proximal sandur surface meltwater is deposition and the preservation poten- diverted parallel to the ice front as well as being routed to the distributary channels on tial of sediment sequences (Maizels, proximal sandur surface. (C) Progressive lowering and retreat of the ice front isolate the 1997). Given the disposition of the ac- distributary channels on the proximal sandur surface, and a lateral ice marginal drainage tive channels, facies exposed on the sur- network develops that is dominated by a small number of primary outlets. face of Skeiðara rsandur, especially in the proximal zone and mid-sandur re- gion, are unlikely to be a product of rivers had evolved, and the glacier had the entire outwash plain (cf. KrigstroÈ m, contemporary fluvial processes. More- been almost completely decoupled from 1962). The shift from a diffuse to a over, care should be taken when em- the proximal sandur surface. A diffuse channelized (point-source) distributary ploying the contemporary conditions proglacial meltwater dispersal system system on Skeiðara rsandur appears to and distribution of facies in active chan- may re-emerge in the future and reacti- have had a significant impact on the nels crossing Skeiðara rsandur as an vate the proximal surface if the ice- magnitude and style of sedimentation analogue for sedimentary deposits that marginal depression is infilled, the T3 in the proximal zone. This has implica- are presumed to have been caused by surface is eroded, and/or Skeiðara r- tions for the interpretation of vertical catastrophic flooding in other locales, joÈ kull readvances and thickens. and lateral lithofacies successions on including planetary surfaces. Skeiðara rsandur, and the development of a general facies model. The lateral Conclusion lithofacies are a product of the contem- Acknowledgements The contemporary configuration of porary meltwater distributary system, Supported by National Science Foundation channels in the proximal zone of which by-passes the proximal zone dur- Grant SBR-9707648. The Icelandic Re- Skeiðara rsandur is atypical, since a dif- ing both low and high flows, and is search Council gave permission to work fuse, multipoint distributary system is dominated by a few large braided rivers on Skeiðara rsandur. We thank Jim Garvin, required to sustain active accretion over that emerge from point sources to de- Jakob Thorsteinsson, Helgi Torfason and

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Andy Russell for supporting our endeavors, Hooke, R.B., 1967. Processes on arid-region river during the November 1996 Peter Moore for assistance in the field, Amy alluvial fans. J. Geol, 75, 438±460. joÈ kulhlaup, Skeiðara rsandur, Iceland. Amies for generating the photo-mosaic and Jo nsson, J., 1955. On the formation of JoÈkull, 47, 45±48. Wendy Lawson for insightful discussion. frontal glacial lakes. Geografiska Annaler, Rust, B.R., 1978. Depositional models for 37, 229±233. braided alluvium. Can Soc. Petroleum Klimek, K., 1973. Geomorphological and Geologists Memoir, 5, 605±625. References geological analysis of the proglacial area Smith, L.C., Alsdorf, D.E., Magilligan, F.J., of the Skeiðara rjoÈ kull. Geographia Gomez, B., Mertes, L.A.K., Smith, N.D. BjoÈ rnsson, H., 1988. Hydrology of Ice Caps Polonica, 26, 89±113. and J.B. Garvin, 2000. Estimation of in Volcanic Regions, Reykjavõ k, Societas KrigstroÈ m, A., 1962. Geomorphological erosion, deposition, and net volume tric Scientarium Islandica. studies of sandar plains and their change caused by the 1996 BjoÈ rnsson, H., 1998. Hydrological character- geomorphological significance. Skeidararsandur Jokulhlaup, Iceland, istics of the drainage system beneath a Geografiska Annaler, 44, 328±346. from SAR interferometry. Water surging glacier. Nature, 395, 771±774. Maizels, J.K., 1991. The origin and Resources Research, 36, 1583±1594. Boothroyd, J.C. and Nummedal, D., 1978. evolution of Holocene sandur deposits in Snorrason, A .P., Jo nsson, P., Pa lsson, S., Proglacial braided outwash: a model for areas of joÈ kulhlaup drainage, Iceland: in A rnason, O., Sigurðsson, S., Võ kingsson, humid alluvial-fan deposits. Can Soc. Maizels, J.K. and Caseldine, C., eds. S., Sigurðsson, A . and Zo phanõ õ sson, S., Petroleum Geologists Memoir, 5, 641±668. Environmental Change in Iceland. Kluwer. 1997. Hlaupið a Skeiðara rsansi haustið Churski, Z., 1973. Hydrographic features of Dordrecht, 267±302. 1996: UÈ tbreiðsla, rennsli og aurburður. the proglacial area of Skeiðara rjoÈ kull. Maizels, J.K., 1997. JoÈ kulhlaup deposits in In: Haraldsson, ed. VatnajoÈkull: Gos Og Geographia Polonica, 26, 209±254. proglacial areas. Quaternary Sci. Reviews, Hlaup 1996. Vegagerðin, 79±137. Galon, R., 1973. Geomorphological and 16, 793±819. Thompson, A., 1988. Historical geological analysis of the proglacial area Price, R.J. and Howarth, P.J., 1970. The development of the proglacial landforms of Skeiðara rjoÈ kull. Geographia Polonica, evolution of the drainage system (1904± of Svõ nafellsjoÈ kull and SkaftafellsjoÈ kull, 26, 15±56. 65) in front of BreidamerkurjoÈ kull, southeast Iceland. JoÈkull, 38, 17±31. Gomez, B., Russell, A.J., Smith, L.C. and Iceland. JoÈkull, 20, 27±37. Thompson, A. and Jones, A., 1986. Rates Knudsen, O ., in press. Erosion and Rice, J.W. and Edgett, K.S., 1997. and causes of proglacial river terrace deposition in the proglacial zone: the 1996 Catastrophic flood sediments in Chryse formation in southeast Iceland: an joÈ kulhlaup on Skeiðara rsandur. Basin, Mars, and Quincy Basin, application of lichenometric dating International Association for Hydrological Washington: applications of sandar techniques. Boreas, 15, 231±246. Sciences Publication XXX, xxx-xxx. facies models. J. Geophys Research, Tho rarinsson, S., 1939. HofellsjoÈ kull, its Gustavason, T.C. and Boothroyd, J.C., 102, 4185±4200. movements and drainage. Geografiska 1987. A depositional model for outwash, Rist, S., 1955. Skeiðara rhlaup 1954. JoÈkull, Annaler, 21, 189±215. sediment sources, and hydrologic 5, 30±36. characteristics, Malaspina Glacier, Russell, A.J., Knudsen, O ., Maizels, J.K. Alaska: a modern analog of the and Marren, P.M., 1999. Channel southeastern margin of the Laurentide ice cross-sectional area changes and peak Received 20Dec 1999; revised version accepted sheet. Geol Soc. Am. Bull., 99, 187±200. discharge calculations in the Gõ gjukvõ sl 27 July 2000

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