Mapping and modeling deglacial ice dynamics and relative sea-level history in Newfoundland

这项研究计划集中于两个主题：1)纽芬兰冰盖在最后一次冰川期间的历史和动态，从穿过大陆架到岛屿内部最终融化；2)纽芬兰周围海平面因冰盖消退和融化而波动的历史。将通过考察和实地测绘冰盖进退保存下来的地貌和景观来调查冰退的历史。这项提议的一个新重点是将使用声纳测量绘制的内大陆架冰川地貌数据与通过航空照片和卫星图像绘制的陆上地貌数据结合起来。特别令人感兴趣的研究课题是纽芬兰冰帽中以前的冰流(快速流动的冰川冰)的证据，以及冰缘退缩的时间和模式。这些结果将为理解整个气候变暖期间海洋小冰盖的行为提供新的可能性，并将立即应用于纽芬兰的矿产勘探行业，因为在冰流中快速流动的冰的运输距离可能比最初想象的要大。 随着我们试图预测下个世纪全球海平面对气候变暖的反应，相对海平面研究得到了越来越多的关注。过去的海平面记录表明，这一反应的区域变异性很强，主要是由于上一次冰川的残余影响。拟议的研究涉及纽芬兰冰川后相对海平面变化的空间和时间变化，该地区即使在未来海平面上升的最保守情景下也可能经历中等到重大的影响。这项研究的一个主要重点将是收集精确的海平面数据，以增进我们对海平面过程的了解，并为模型界提供量化信息。

This research program focuses on two themes: 1) the history and dynamics of the Newfoundland Ice Cap during the last glaciation, from retreat across the continental shelf to final melting in the interior of the island; and 2) the history of sea-level fluctuations around Newfoundland in response to ice cap retreat and melting. Ice retreat history will be investigated through examination and field mapping of landforms and landscapes preserved from ice cap advance and retreat. A new focus in this proposal is to combine glacial landform data from the inner continental shelf, mapped using sonar surveys, with landform data onshore, mapped from aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Topics of particular research interest are the evidence for former ice streams (fast-flowing glacier ice) in the Newfoundland Ice Cap and the timing and pattern of ice-marginal retreat. Results should provide new potential for understanding the behaviour of a small maritime ice cap during an overall period of climate warming and will have immediate application to the mineral exploration industry in Newfoundland because ice transport distances under rapid flow in an ice stream may be greater than originally thought. Relative sea-level studies have gained increased attention as we attempt to forecast global sea-level responses to climate warming over the next century. Past sea-level records suggest strong regional variability in this response, primarily due to residual effects from the last glaciation. The proposed research addresses the spatial and temporal variation in postglacial relative sea-level change in Newfoundland, a region that may experience moderate to significant impacts even under the most conservative scenarios of future sea-level rise. A major focus of this research will be the collection of precise sea-level data to improve our understanding of sea-level processes, and to provide quantitative information for the modelling community.