Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor Andrew RussellORCiD
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
One of the largest recorded glacier outburst floods (jokulhlaups) occurred in 1918, generated by the last major subglacial eruption of Katla volcano in southern Iceland. Using digitized historical topographic surveys and field observations from the main proglacial outwash plain (Myrdalssandur), we document the reaction of Myrdalssandur to the 1918 event and subsequent response and recovery. Our analysis highlights the longevity of elevated topography, over the recovery period, and the complete reorganization of the main perennial meltwater channel system, both of which will affect and condition the flow routing and impact of future jokulhlaups. The jokulhlaup deposited approximately 2 km(3) of sediment onto Myrdalssandur immediately after the event and extended the coastline by several kilometers. However, 80% of this material by volume has since been removed by surface and subsurface water flow on the main sandur and by marine reworking at the coast. By 2007, the surface elevation at specific locations on the outwash plain and the position of the coastline were similar to those in 1904, indicating near-complete recovery of the landscape. Despite this, the Myrdalssandur coastline has experienced net advance over the past 1000 years. Using our calculated characteristic landscape response and recovery values following the 1918 event (60 years and 120 years) we deduce that the landscape has been in a dominant state of transience, with regard to forcing frequency and timescale of recovery, over the past 1000 years, which has facilitated long-term landscape growth.
Author(s): Duller RA, Warner NH, McGonigle C, De Angelis S, Russell AJ, Mountney NP
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
Year: 2014
Volume: 41
Issue: 12
Pages: 4214-4221
Print publication date: 28/06/2014
Online publication date: 25/06/2014
Acceptance date: 17/05/2014
ISSN (print): 0094-8276
ISSN (electronic): 1944-8007
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014GL060090
DOI: 10.1002/2014GL060090
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
