GLACIAL LANDSYSTEMS: THE VALUE OF MODERN ANALOGUES IN QUATERNARY PALAEOGLACIOLOGY

Since the introduction of the primary glacial landsystems, intensive research around modern glacier margins has led to an expansion of the landsystem concept. This has led to an appreciation of the influence of glacier morphology and dynamics in the construction of landform-sediment assemblages. Additionally, variability in landform-sediment assemblages is dictated not only by the location of deposition but also by the ‘style’ of glaciation. Glaciation ‘styles’ are a function of climate, basement and surficial geology and topography and consequently a wide range of glacial landsystems have been compiled for different ice masses and dynamics. Research on modern glacier margins defines evolving glacial landsystems according to the range of processes active at particular sites over time. This has led to the identification of landform-sediment suites indicative of specific styles of glaciation or the impacts of certain ice dynamics. Once a landform-sediment suite pertaining to a single period of glacier occupancy or activity can be identified, it often becomes possible to differentiate overprinted signatures. This is invaluable to reconstructions of Quaternary palaeoglaciology. The expanding data base on process-form relationships is applied in holistic assessments of glacial environments to provide landsystems models. Examples are provided of the following glacial landsystems: a) lowland active, temperate glacier lobes, based on Breidamerkurjokull, Iceland; b) surging glacier lobes, based on Bruarjokull and Eyjabakkajokull, Iceland; c) plateau icefields, based on examples in Arctic Norway and Iceland; and d) sub-polar glaciers, based on the Canadian high arctic. These models are then applied to case studies of palaeoglaciological reconstruction.