Varved sediments (varves) refers to the annually laminated sediment deposited at the base of some lakes, or marine settings[1]. These sediments are incredible resources for researchers who look into changes in climate and environmental systems in the past. This is because they can record changes to these systems at an annual, or even seasonal resolution. …
The first edition of “A Practical Guide to the study of Glacial Sediments” (Edited by David Evans and Doug Benn) was an essential handbook to all students of glacial geology. It has helped countless undergraduate and MSc dissertation students, and my well-thumbed copy has come with me every time I go into the field. It …
A Practical Guide to Glacial Sediments, 2nd edition Read More »
This article was written by Dr Jenna Sutherland. All photos and images are credited to Jenna Sutherland. A long history of scientific debate Along the east coast of the UK, spectacular coastal sections expose sediments that were deposited by the last British Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) around 21,000 years ago. For many years, Late Devensian …
Unlocking ice-flow pathways using glacial erratics Read More »
What is a glacial erratic? Glacial erratics, often simply called erratics, or erratic boulders, are rocks that have been transported by ice and deposited elsewhere. The type of rock (lithology) that the glacial erratic is made from is different to the lithology of the bedrock where the erratic is deposited. For example, an erratic could …
Other techniques that are well used in glaciology include remote sensing of glacier change. We can map the world’s glaciers using satellite imagery, including taking inventories of glaciers, and map glacier recession from space. We can then use satellite imagery to observe glaciers receding around the Antarctic Peninsula, and in Patagonia.
This section is taken from Bethan Davies’ PhD thesis. Multiproxy analysis of glacigenic sediments? | Micromorphological interpretation of glacigenic sediments | References | Comments | Multiproxy analysis of glacigenic sediments Lodgement and Deformation tills Thin-section analysis can be used in conjunction with macroscale sedimentological analysis to identify subglacial processes. Traditionally, tills have been subdivided based …
This section is taken from Bethan Davies’ PhD thesis. Introduction to micromorphology | Sample Collection and Preparation | Sample analysis | References | Comments | Introduction to micromorphology Micromorphology, or thin-section analysis, is the microscopic examination of the composition and structure of sediments. It was originally developed in soil science, with concepts of plasmic fabric …
This section is taken from Bethan Davies’ PhD thesis. Clast Angularity-Roundness | Clast Macro-Fabric Analysis | Striae Orientation | References | Comments | Clast Angularity-Roundness Clasts inherit their shapes from the surrounding environment; erosion, transportation and weathering give clasts distinctive geomorphological signatures1. Angularity-roundness is simple to measure in the field when undertaking till-fabric analysis. Descriptive …
This section is taken from Bethan Davies’ PhD thesis. What is Lithostratigraphy? | Vertical Profiles | Lithofacies Associations | Landsystems | References | Comments | What is Lithostratigraphy? Lithostratigraphy is the ‘classification of bodies of rock based on the observable lithological properties of the strata and their relative stratigraphic positions’1. Stratigraphy includes information about processes, …
