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Inner gorges cut by subglacial meltwater during Fennoscandian ice sheet decay
J D Jansen1, A T Codilean2, A P Stroeven3
11] Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Department of Physical Geography & Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden [2] School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
Inner gorges were carved by subglacial meltwater beneath the Fennoscandian ice sheet, not by surface rivers. This finding resolves a century-long debate on glacial landform origins.
Area of Science:
- Geomorphology
- Quaternary Geology
- Glaciology
Background:
- The origin of inner gorges, repeatedly glaciated during the Quaternary, remains debated.
- Key question: Are these gorges fluvial (river-eroded) or subglacial (ice-eroded) landforms?
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the erosional origin of inner gorges along the former Fennoscandian ice sheet margin.
- To test the hypothesis of subglacial meltwater erosion versus subaerial river erosion.
Main Methods:
- Cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating applied to seven inner gorges.
- Integration with a new deglaciation map of the Fennoscandian ice sheet.
Main Results:
- Exposure dating results align with the timing of ice-free conditions.
- Evidence suggests gorges formed under ice cover, shielded from cosmic rays.
- No significant postglacial river erosion observed in the studied gorges.
Conclusions:
- Inner gorges are primarily subglacial erosional forms, created by channelized meltwater.
- These gorges indicate intense surface melting of the Fennoscandian ice sheet.
- Subglacial meltwater was a significant driver of valley deepening on the Baltic Shield across glacial cycles.
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