RESULTS
Glacier Type Classification
As a single factor, slope showed a potential, slight correlation with glacier type.
Boxplot and scatterplot suggesting a correlation between glacier slope and glacier type.
Slope and elevation combined also appeared to be correlated with glacier type. In the following image, glacier type categories are denoted as 1 (red), 2 (orange), and 3(yellow).
Based on these results, In glacial basins for which information on 20th-century terminus behaviour was not available, slope and elevation were used for categorization.
Glacier Type-Channel Morphology Correlation Analysis
When the data was plotted in R, Type 1 glaciers appeared to have a potential correlation with higher glacier slopes and increased complexity in channel morphology (measured by a higher degree of variability in regression analysis). Type 2 and 3 appeared to be potentially correlated with lower slopes and lowersystem complexity.
Comparison of glacier type, glacier slope, and variability of channel morphology.
Glacier Type and Channel Morphology
Below are three typical examples of glacier types and corresponding morphological patterns, categorized based on the findings of this project. The Type 1 glacier, Septimus, has a high slope, high PAS (suggesting a high rate of accumulation), and a highly variable channel. The Type 3 glacier, Matier, has a lower slope and a less variable channel. The Type 2 glacier, Wedgemount, falls in between.
Note:
As apparent on the DEMs, the pictures, taken during field surveys in
summer 2010, do not extend to sites below the lakes in each channel,
although GIS analysis covered the stream reaches below the lakes. The
channels below the lakes were physically impossible to measure because
of their steepness.
Type 1
Septimus Glacier, Strathcona Provincial Park
Hillshade DEM with glacier, lake, channel, and photograph points. Stream channel evaluated with GIS analysis is indicated in purple.
1: Septimus Glacier. 2: Upper channel. 3: Mid channel. 4: Lower channel at LIA maximum moraine. 5. Channel terminus in Cream Lake.
Slope-area plot for Septimus.
Type 2
Wedgemount Glacier, Garibaldi Provincial Park
Hillshade DEM with glacier, lake, channel, and photograph points. Stream channel evaluated by GIS analysis is indicated in purple.
1: Wedgemount Glaicer. 2: Upper channel. 3: Lower channel at terminus in Wedgemount Lake.
Slope-area plot for Wedgemount.
Type 3
Matier Glacier, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Hillshade DEM with glacier, lake, channel, and photograph points. Stream channel evaluated by GIS analysis is indicated in purple.
1: Matier Glacier. 2: Upper channel. 3: Lower channel. 4: Channel terminus in Upper Joffre Lake.
Slope-area plot for Matier.