Submarine landforms and the reconstruction of fast-flowing ice streams within a large Quaternary ice sheet: The 2500-km-long Norwegian-Svalbard margin (57°–80°N)

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2005 Submarine landforms and the reconstruction of fast-flowing ice streams within a large Quaternary ice sheet: The 2500-km-long Norwegian-Svalbard margin (57°–80°N) D. Ottesen; D. Ottesen 1Geological Survey of Norway, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.A. Dowdeswell; J.A. Dowdeswell 2Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1ER, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L. Rise L. Rise 3Geological Survey of Norway, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information D. Ottesen 1Geological Survey of Norway, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway J.A. Dowdeswell 2Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1ER, UK L. Rise 3Geological Survey of Norway, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 28 Jan 2004 Revision Received: 18 Jun 2004 Accepted: 09 Sep 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2005) 117 (7-8): 1033–1050. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25577.1 Article history Received: 28 Jan 2004 Revision Received: 18 Jun 2004 Accepted: 09 Sep 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation D. Ottesen, J.A. Dowdeswell, L. Rise; Submarine landforms and the reconstruction of fast-flowing ice streams within a large Quaternary ice sheet: The 2500-km-long Norwegian-Svalbard margin (57°–80°N). GSA Bulletin 2005;; 117 (7-8): 1033–1050. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25577.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Morphological interpretation of regional and detailed bathymetric data sets on the 2500-km-long Norwegian shelf from the North Sea (57°N) to Svalbard (80°N) has revealed a dynamic ice-flow pattern along the western margin of the Scandinavian and Barents/Svalbard ice sheets. About 20 cross-shelf troughs with megascale glacial lineations (MSGL; elongate ridges and grooves oriented parallel to trough long axes) are interpreted as former pathways for fastflowing ice streams. Studies of large-scale margin morphology and seismic profiles have identified large submarine fans at the mouths of several major cross-shelf troughs. Less dynamic ice probably existed on shallower banks. The two largest paleo-ice streams were the Norwegian Channel Ice Stream and Bear Island Trough Ice Stream, each 150–200 km wide at the mouth. The lengths of individual MSGL vary from hundreds of meters to several tens of kilometers, and the distance between ridges varies from 0.1 to 3 km. MSGL amplitudes reach 15 m, but are commonly <10 m. The onset of MSGL and, hence, fast ice flow is generally close to the outer coast, at the border zone between crystalline rocks and softer sedimentary rocks. Transverse submarine ridges on various scales, commonly parallel to the shelf edge, reflect either the maximum ice-sheet position or the recessional pattern of the ice sheet. Lateral ice-stream moraines several tens of kilometers long have also been mapped along the sides of several cross-shelf troughs, identifying the border zone between fast ice flow and stagnant or slow-flowing ice on intervening banks. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.