Selective glacial erosion on the Norwegian passive margin

Research Article| December 01, 2013 Selective glacial erosion on the Norwegian passive margin Adrian M. Hall; Adrian M. Hall 1School of Geography and GeoSciences, University of St Andrews, Irvine Building, North Street, St Andrews KY16 9AL, Fife, Scotland, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Karin Ebert; Karin Ebert 2Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Johan Kleman; Johan Kleman 2Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Atle Nesje; Atle Nesje 3Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Dag Ottesen Dag Ottesen 4Exploro AS, Stiklestadveien 1, 7040 Trondheim, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Adrian M. Hall 1School of Geography and GeoSciences, University of St Andrews, Irvine Building, North Street, St Andrews KY16 9AL, Fife, Scotland, UK Karin Ebert 2Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden Johan Kleman 2Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden Atle Nesje 3Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway Dag Ottesen 4Exploro AS, Stiklestadveien 1, 7040 Trondheim, Norway Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 04 Jun 2013 Revision Received: 12 Aug 2013 Accepted: 16 Aug 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2013 Geological Society of America Geology (2013) 41 (12): 1203–1206. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34806.1 Article history Received: 04 Jun 2013 Revision Received: 12 Aug 2013 Accepted: 16 Aug 2013 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Adrian M. Hall, Karin Ebert, Johan Kleman, Atle Nesje, Dag Ottesen; Selective glacial erosion on the Norwegian passive margin. Geology 2013;; 41 (12): 1203–1206. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34806.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Glaciated passive margins display dramatic fjord coasts, but also commonly retain plateau fragments inland. It has been proposed recently that such elevated, low-relief surfaces on the Norwegian margin are products of highly efficient and extensive glacial and periglacial erosion (the glacial buzzsaw) operating at equilibrium line altitudes (ELAs). We demonstrate here that glacial erosion has acted instead to dissect plateaus in western Norway. Low-relief surfaces are not generally spatially associated with cirques, and do not correlate regionally with modern and Last Glacial Maximum ELAs. Glacier dynamics require instead that glacial erosion is selective, with low-relief surfaces representing islands of limited Pleistocene erosion. Deep glacial erosion of the coast and inner shelf has provided huge volumes of sediment (70,000 km3), largely resolving apparent mismatches (65–100,000 km3) between fjord and valley volumes and Pliocene–Pleistocene sediment wedges offshore. Nonetheless, as Pleistocene glacial valleys and cirques are cut into preexisting mountain relief, tectonics rather than isostatic compensation for glacial erosion have been the main driver for late Cenozoic uplift on the Norwegian passive margin. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.