Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-j4qg9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-11T22:13:06.881Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

On the Formation of the Tunnel Valleys of the Superior Lobe, Central Minnesota

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Howard D. Moores
Howard D. Moores*
Affiliation:
Limnological Research Center, 220 Pillsbury Hall, and The Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

When considering the formation of tunnel valleys, most researchers have appealed to basal melting as the primary source of water. Erosion of the tunnel valleys can then be accomplished by steady-state drainage over a long period or by storage and subsequent catastrophic release. However, field relationships in a large system of tunnel valleys formed by the Superior lobe in central Minnesota indicate that another source of water must be considered. The Minnesota tunnel valleys are composed of individual segments 10–20 km long, and the segments commonly terminate in subaerial outwash fans at recessional ice margin positions. Eskers, associated with the tunnel valleys, are also composed of short segments, frequently beginning at moulin kames and terminating at the head of outwash fans. The dominant source of the water responsible for tunnel-valley formation was seasonal meltwater from the glacier surface that reached the bed through moulins and crevasses. The apparent continuity of the valleys resulted from the headward development of the englacial drainage system during ice retreat.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , July 1989 , pp. 24 - 35
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Behrens, H. Bergmann, H. Moser, H. Ambach, W. Jochum, O., (1975). On the water channels of the internal drainage system of the Hintereisgerner, Ötztal Alps, Austria Journal of Glaciology 14, 375–382 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Björnsson, H., (1974). Explanation of Jökulhlaups from Grimsvötn, Vatnajökull, Iceland Jökull 24, 1–26 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Björnsson, H., (1977). The cause of Jökulhlaups in the Skaftá River, Vatnajökull Jökull 27, 71–77 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Björnsson, H., (1979). Glaciers in Iceland Jökull 29, 74–80 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boulton, G.S. Hindmarsh, R.C.A., (1987). Sediment deformation beneath glaciers: Rheology and geological consequences Journal of Geophysical Research 92, 8985–8998 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cushing, E.J., (1963). Late Wisconsin Pollen Stratigraphy in East-Central Minnesota Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation University of Minnesota Google Scholar
Fisher, D.A., (1973). Subglacial leakage of Summit Lake, British Columbia, by dye determinations IASH 95, 111–116 Google Scholar
Gustavson, T.C. Boothroyd, J.C., (1987). A depositional model for outwash, sediment sources, and hydrologic characteristics, Malaspina Glacier, Alaska: A modern analog of the southeastern margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet Geological Society of America Bulletin 99, 187–200 2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haefeli, R. Brentane, F., (1955). Observations in a cold ice cap Journal of Glaciology 2, 571–581 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmlund, P., (1988). Internal geometry and evolution of moulins, Storglaciären, Sweden Journal of Glaciology 34, 242–248 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmlund, P. Hooke, R.LeB., (1983). High water-pressure events in moulins, Storglaciären Sweden. Geografiska Annaler 65A, 19–25 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hooke, R.LeB., (1977). Basal temperatures in polar ice sheets: A qualitative review Quaternary Research 7, 1–13 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hooke, R.LeB. Gould, J.E. Brzozowski, J., (1983). Near-surface temperatures near and below the equilibrium line on polar and subpolar glaciers Zeitschrift Für Gletscherkunde Und Glazialgeology 19, 1–25 Google Scholar
Hooke, R.LeB. Brzozowski, J. Bronge, C., (1983). Seasonal variations in surface velocity, Storglaciären, Sweden Geografiska Annaler 65A, 263–277 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jarvis, G.T. Clarke, G.K.C., (1974). Thermal effects of crevassing on Steele Glacier, Yukon Territory, Canada Journal of Glaciology 13, 243–254 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kamb, B., (1987). Glacier surge mechanism based on linked cavity configuration of the basal water conduit system Journal of Geophysical Research 92, 9083–9100 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krimmel, R.M. Tangborn, M.V. Meier, M.F., (1973). Water flow through a temperatre glacier IASH 107, 401–416 Google Scholar
Lliboutry, L., (1968). General theory of subglacial cavitation and sliding of temperate glaciers Journal of Glaciology 7, 21–58 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lliboutry, L., (1983). Modifications to the theory of intraglacial waterways for the case of subglacial ones Journal of Glaciology 29, 216–226 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mickelson, D.M. Clayton, L. Fullerton, D.S. Borns, H.W. Jr. The Late Wisconsin glacial record of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in the United States Porter, S.C., (1983). Late Quaternary Environments of the United States Vol I, Univ. of Minnesota Press Minneapolis 3–37 “The Late Pleistocene” Google Scholar
Mickelson, D.M. Clayton, L. Muller, E.H., (1986). Contrasts in glacial landforms, deposits, glacier-bed conditions, and glacier dynamics along the southern edge of the Laurentide Ice Sheet American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, 9th biennial meeting University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana 28–30 Google Scholar
Mooers, H.D., (1988). Quaternary History and Ice Dynamics of the St. Croix Phase of Late Wisconsin Glaciation, Central Minnesota Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation University of Minnesota Google Scholar
Mooers, H.D., (1989). Drumlin formation: A time transgressive model Boreas 18, in press CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nye, J.F., (1953). The flow law of ice from measurements in glacier tunnels, laboratory experiments and the Jungfraufirm borehole experiment Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A 219, 477–489 Google Scholar
Nye, J.F., (1973). Water at the bed of a glacier IASH 95, 189–193 Google Scholar
Paterson, W.S.B., (1981). The Physics of Glaciers Pergamon Oxford Google Scholar
Raymond, C., (1987). How do glaciers surge? A review Journal of Geophysical Research 92, 9121–9134 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Röthlisberger, H., (1972). Water Pressure in intra- and subglacial channels Journal of Glaciology 11, 177–203 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seaberg, S.Z. Seaberg, J.Z. Hooke, R.LeB. Wiberg, D., (1988). Character of the englacial and subglacial drainage system in the lower part of the ablation area of Storglaciären, Sweden, as revealed by dye trace studies Journal of Glaciology 34, 217–227 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharpe, D.R., (1986). Late glacial landforms of the Wollaston Peninsula, Victoria Island, Northwest territories: Product of ice-marginal retreat, surge and Mass stagnation Proceedings of the 15th Annual Arctic Workshop INSTAAR Univ. of Colorado Boulder Google Scholar
Shaw, J., (1983). Drumlin formation related to inverted melt-water erosional marks Journal of Glaciology 29, 461–479 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shaw, J. Kvill, D., (1984). A glaciofluvial origin for drumlins of the Livingstone Lake area, Saskatchewan Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 21, 1442–1459 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shoemaker, E.M., (1986). Subglacial hydrology for an ice sheet resting on a deformable aquifer Journal of Glaciology 32, 20–30 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shoemaker, E.M. Leung, H.K.N., (1987). Subglacial drainage for an ice sheet resting upon a layered deformable bed Journal of Geophysical Research 92, 4935–4946 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shreve, R.L., (1972). Movement of water in glaciers Journal of Glaciology 11, 205–213 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shreve, R.L., (1985). Late Wisconsin ice-surface profile calculated from esker paths and types, Katahdin esker system, Maine Quaternary Research 23, 27–37 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ussing, N.V., (1903). On Jyllands Hedesletter og Teorierne om deres Dannelse: Copenhagen Oversigt over det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 2, 99–165 Google Scholar
Watts, W.A. Winter, T.C., (1966). Plant macrofossils from Kirchner Marsh, Minnesota—A paleoecological study Geological Society of America Bulletin 77, 1339–1359 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weertman, J., (1962). Catastrophic glacier advances IASH 47, 162–168 Google Scholar
Weertman, J., (1964). The theory of glacier sliding Journal of Glaciology 5, 287–303 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wold, B. Østrem, G., (1979). Subglacial constructions and investigations of Bondhusbreen, Norway Journal of Glaciology 23, 363–379 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, H.E. Jr. Quaternary History of Minnesota Sims, P.K. Morey, G.B., (1972). Geology of Minnesota: A Centennial Volume Minnesota Geological Survey Minneapolis 515–547 Google Scholar
Wright, H.E. Jr. Tunnel valleys, glacial surges and subglacial hydrology of the Superior Lobe, Minnesota Black, R.F. Goldthwait, R.P. Willman, G.B., (1973). The Wisconsinan Stage Geological Society of America Memoir 136, 251–276 Boulder CrossRefGoogle Scholar