The sedimentary architecture of outburst flood eskers: A comparison of ground-penetrating radar data from Bering Glacier, Alaska and Skeithararjokull, Iceland

Research Article| September 01, 2010 The sedimentary architecture of outburst flood eskers: A comparison of ground-penetrating radar data from Bering Glacier, Alaska and Skeiðarárjökull, Iceland Matthew J. Burke; Matthew J. Burke † 1School of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK †Now at: Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6; E-mail: john.woodward@northumbria.ac.uk Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John Woodward; John Woodward 1School of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew J. Russell; Andrew J. Russell 2School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. Jay Fleisher; P. Jay Fleisher 3Earth Sciences Department, State University of New York–Oneonta, New York 13820-4015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Palmer K. Bailey Palmer K. Bailey 4Kenai Peninsula College, Anchor Point, Alaska 99556-9160, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Matthew J. Burke † 1School of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK John Woodward 1School of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK Andrew J. Russell 2School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK P. Jay Fleisher 3Earth Sciences Department, State University of New York–Oneonta, New York 13820-4015, USA Palmer K. Bailey 4Kenai Peninsula College, Anchor Point, Alaska 99556-9160, USA †Now at: Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6; E-mail: john.woodward@northumbria.ac.uk Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 12 Jan 2009 Revision Received: 01 Oct 2009 Accepted: 16 Nov 2009 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2010 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2010) 122 (9-10): 1637–1645. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30008.1 Article history Received: 12 Jan 2009 Revision Received: 01 Oct 2009 Accepted: 16 Nov 2009 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Matthew J. Burke, John Woodward, Andrew J. Russell, P. Jay Fleisher, Palmer K. Bailey; The sedimentary architecture of outburst flood eskers: A comparison of ground-penetrating radar data from Bering Glacier, Alaska and Skeiðarárjökull, Iceland. GSA Bulletin 2010;; 122 (9-10): 1637–1645. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30008.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract We present ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles that reveal the sedimentary architecture of an esker deposited during a surge-associated outburst flood at the Bering Glacier, Alaska. The wide, up-flow end of the esker contains a transition from large backset beds to large foreset beds interpreted to reflect composite macroform development in an enlarged part of the conduit. By contrast, the narrow, down-flow portion of the esker is dominated by plane beds interpreted to have been deposited where the conduit was constricted and the flow was faster. A previously studied outburst esker at Skeiðarárjökull, Iceland has a similar morphology and stratigraphic architecture. This suggests that outburst floods generate distinct depositional signatures in eskers, both in terms of morphology and sedimentary architecture. Identification of these distinct signatures in ancient eskers will help assess the paleohydraulic conditions under which ancient eskers formed and, by extension, the nature of meltwater drainage systems beneath the Laurentide and Eurasian ice sheets. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.