Till: A Glacial Process Sedimentology

ISBN-13: 9781118652596 / Angielski / Twarda / 2017 / 400 str.

David J. A. Evans

Opis

The process sedimentology of tills is crucial to the understanding of the glacier ice-bed interface as a complex depositional, erosional and shear boundary layer. Consequently, it also plays a central role in deciphering the genesis of enigmatic subglacial bedforms such as drumlins, flutings and ribbed terrain. Yet, unlike the study of other boundary layers such as those that operate at the bed of fluvial, aeolian and deep water systems, our knowledge of subglacial process-form relationships is relatively impoverished, largely due to the inaccessibility of glacier and ice sheet beds. Notwithstanding the important contributions now being made to this research problem by remotely sensed and localized borehole observations as well as reductionist laboratory experiments, it is critical that glacial scientists continue to refine their interpretations of ancient archives of subglacial processes, specifically those that are represented by tills and associated deposits, as these archives form the most widespread and accessible record of processes at the ice-bed interface.

This book addresses all the key issues related to the topic through critical reviews of the till literature, laboratory and experiment based assessments of subglacial processes, and the theoretical constructs that have emerged from process sedimentology. These deliberations are then employed in the erection of a contemporary till nomenclature in which process-form relationships are founded in a coherent synthesis of a wide range of knowledge bases. The Wiley-Blackwell Cryosphere Science Series comprises volumes that are at the cutting edge of new research or provide a focused interdisciplinary reviews of key aspects of the science.

Recenzje

"If you are looking for a text that brings together a detailed review of the current state of Till science, then this book is highly recommended." Geoscientist Online

O autorze

David J A Evans is a Professor in the Department of Geography at Durham University, Durham, UK. A leading expert in the field of glacial process sedimentology, his research on the landforms and sediments of modern and ancient glaciated basins has been the catalyst for the compilation of glacial landsystems models and the reconstruction of palaeo–glacier dynamics.

Blurb

Provides the first comprehensive review of the current state of the science on tills

It is critical that glacial scientists continue to refine their interpretations of ancient archives of subglacial processes, specifically those represented by tills and associated deposits, as they form the most widespread and accessible record of processes at the ice–bed interface. Unfortunately, despite a long history of investigation and a lexicon of process–based nomenclature, glacial sedimentologists have yet to reach a consensus on diagnostic criteria for identifying till genesis in the geological record. What should be called till? Based on the author′s extensive field research, as well as the latest literature on the subject, this book attempts to provide a definitive answer to that question. It critically reviews the global till literature and experimental and laboratory–based assessments of subglacial processes, as well as the theoretical constructs that have emerged from process sedimentology over the past century. Drawing on a wide range of knowledge bases, David Evans develops a more precise, contemporary till nomenclature and new investigatory strategies for understanding a critical aspect of glacial process sedimentology.

• Provides an in–depth discussion of subglacial sedimentary processes, with an emphasis on the origins of till matrix and terminal grade and the latest observations on till evolution
• Describes contemporary laboratory and modelling experiments on till evolution and techniques for measuring strain signatures in glacial deposits
• Develops an updated till nomenclature based on an array of knowledge bases and describes new strategies for field description and analysis of glacial diamictons

Written by an internationally recognised expert in the field, this book represents an important step forward in the modern understanding of glacial process sedimentology. As such, Till: A Glacial Process Sedimentology is an indispensable resource for advanced undergraduates and researchers in sedimentology, glacier science and related areas.