Further Investigations of Ice-Proximal Sedimentation Processes, Glacier Bay, Alaska

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This award is in support of continued study of sediment deposition processes in Glacier Bay, Alaska, near the termini of tidewater glaciers (It is a companion proposal to DPP-8619153, submitted by Dr. Ross Powell). During the past two years these processes have been investigated near the termini of Riggs and McBride Glaciers. The study will now be extended to: (1) McMuir Glacier, a tidewater glacier similar to McBride but fronting a less restricted basin, where the distribution and origin of fine laminated sediments as well as sedimentation raters versus distance from the glacier will be investigated; (2) Wachusett Basin, a restricted basin, a restricted basin fronting Carroll Glacier where the production and distribution of bergstone diamicton (a sediment type) will be studied, and (3) Wachusett Delta, where hypotheses developed from the study of Riggs glacier regarding sediment storage and release will be tested. A field laboratory will permit rapid on-site processing of water and sediment traps samples. An understanding of modern glaciomarine sedimentation is essential for interpretation of deposits left by the Pleistocene ice sheets, which are now recognized to have been extensively grounded below sea level. Dr. Norman Smith and his colleague Dr. Ross Powell are well-known for their work on this problem in Glacier Bay.