Geomorphological evidence for jökulhlaups from Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland

Carrivick, Jonathan L.; Russell, Andrew J.; Tweed, Fiona S.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.03.006

Cited by 78 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…Hoskuldsson et al (2006) infer that the pillow lavas within this fissure swarm were erupted under 1.2 to 1.6 km of ice during the last glacial maximum. These fissure swarms have been eroded by catastrophic glacial outburst floods (jökulhlaups) originating from the northern Vatnajökull ice margin (Carrivick and Twigg, 2004;Carrivick et al 2004a). The large volumes of glacial meltwater characteristic of jökulhlaups are caused by a combination of subglacial volcanic activity and rapid failure of ice-dammed lakes (Rushmer 2006;Bjornsson 2002).…”

Section: Fissure Swarmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The last recorded jökulhlaup at Kverkfjöll occurred in January 2002, and was caused by the catastrophic drainage of the geothermal lake "Gengissig" at Hveradalur (Rushmer 2006, Figure 2B). These jökulhlaups also produce distinctive depositional and erosional landforms including boulder bars, terraces, gorges, and outwash fans (Carrivick et al 2004a).…”

Section: Fissure Swarmmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Kverkfjökull sandur comprises of multiple jökulhlaup sedimentary successions ), with distinctive erosional and depositional features. Erosional features landforms in Kverkfjallarani include 'streamlining' of the pillow lava and hyaloclastite ridges that run northeast of Kverkfjöll volcano, gorges, smoothing of lava flows, and scours and potholes on basalt surfaces (Carrivick et al 2004a). Depositional features are similarly extensive, and include outwash fans, depositional terraces, boulder clusters, and fragmented hyaloclastite (Carrivick et al 2004b).…”

Section: Kverkfjöll Proglacial Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Glaciovolcanic hydrothermal environments in Iceland and implications for their detection on Mars

Cousins

Crawford

Carrivick

et al. 2013

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

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Hydrothermal environments driven by volcanism are prime astrobiological targets on Mars, due to their ability to support and preserve microbial ecosystems. Volcano -ice interactions on On Earth, volcano -ice interactions produce many hydrothermal habitats available to microbial colonisation, and thus provide an analogue to past environments on Mars, where many landforms have been attributed to volcano -cryospheric interaction. However, Mars exploration urgently requires a framework for identifying such environments on a range of scales and with a range of geological criteria. In this paper rRemote sensing data were combined with sub-mm environmental mapping and sample analysis that included (X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, thin section petrography, scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive spectrometer analysis, and dissolved ion water chemistry,) to characterise samples from two areas of basaltic volcano -ice interaction: namely Askja and Kverkfjöll volcanoes in Iceland. Askja was erupted subglacially during the Pleistocene, and is now exposed within a volcanic desert. Kverkfjöll is a subglacial volcano beneath on the northern margin of Vatnajökull ice cap, and hosts active hydrothermal systems. NE-trending fissure swarm ridges extend between these two volcanic systems. Multiple Holocene glacial outburst (jökulhlaup) sedimentary deposits lie to the north of Kverkfjöll. Hydrothermal environments at Kverkfjöll were found to be predominantly acidic, with dissolved sulphate dominating the water chemistry. These hydrothermal environments vary across a small (<100 m) spatial scale, and include hot springs, anoxic pools, meltwater lakes, and sulphur-and iron-depositing fumaroles. Biomats, two in association with individual goethite and pyrite mineral terraces, were common at Kverkfjöll. In-situ and laboratory VNIR (440 -1000 nm) reflectance spectra representative of Mars rover multispectral imaging show spectral profiles to be influenced by Fe 2+/3+ -bearing minerals. Overall, sediments and lavas display two types of hydrothermal alteration: a low-temperature (<120°C) assemblage dominated by palagonite, sulfates, and iron oxides; and a high-temperature (>120°C) assemblage signified by heulandite and quartz. This Overall, this work provides a framework for identifying such environments during future exploration of Mars, given their high astrobiological potential, and Claire Cousins -BBK 14/08/12 3 provides a descriptive reference for the two prominent active hydrothermal environments at Kverkfjöllwhich can be used as analogues for those on Mars.

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Section: Fissure Swarmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fissure Swarmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Kverkfjöll Proglacial Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Glaciovolcanic hydrothermal environments in Iceland and implications for their detection on Mars

Cousins

Crawford

Carrivick

et al. 2013

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

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“…The transport took place in the conditions of a high-energy hydraulic flow, capable of traction-transporting of boulders. Sedimentation occurred in a deep channel with a catastrophically high flow discharge resulting from progradation of transverse bars (Baker 1984, Brennand& Shaw 1996, Rudoy & Baker 1993, Carrivick et al 2004, Zieliński 2015.…”

Section: Coarse-grained Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural and textural response to dynamics of fluvioglacial processes of the Rzymsko esker sediments, Central Poland

Frydrych

2016

geol

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Abstract:The study was conducted in the Rzymsko esker, in the Eastern part of the Turek Upland Plain, within the range of the Warta Glaciation (Saalian II). The form was accumulated in a tunnel valley, which was partially filled with esker sediments. Lithofacies analysis, extended by a detailed analysis of clasts, made it possible to identify a considerable variability of sedimentation conditions. At the initial stage, transport and accumulation of sediments took place in the conditions of high energy hydraulic flows or hyperconcentrated flows. The flow energy rose cyclically, which was recorded as sediments coarsening. Deposits of boulders as well as massive and cross-bedded gravels were identified, a record of catastrophic glacial floods. During the later stage of esker formation, sandy and gravelly sediments were accumulated in an open crevasse. The strong erosional force of subglacial water is confirmed by an extremely high content of local rocks in the gravelly fraction (30-87%) and its very good roundness. Zingg shape analysis (1935) revealed a clear predominance of oblate forms among local clasts and equant fennoscandian erratics. A dependency was also found between the processing method and petrographic characteristics.

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“…A number of secondary impacts also pose hazards, including widespread deposition of sediment and post-lahar flooding caused by blocked tributary streams (e.g., Simkin et al, 2001;Witham, 2005). Jö kulhlaups and lahars erode both unconsolidated sediments (e.g., Russell and Marren, 1999;Gomez et al, 2002) and bedrock (e.g., Tó masson, 2002;Carrivick et al, 2004a). Subsequent transport and deposition of a vast amount of sediment (e.g., 10 8 tons; Bjö rnsson, 2002) can produce a suite of diverse and sometimes distinctive landforms (Haeberli et al, 1989;Desloges and Church, 1992;Cenderelli and Wohl, 2003).…”

Section: Introduction and Rationalementioning

confidence: 99%

GPR-Derived Sedimentary Architecture and Stratigraphy of Outburst Flood Sedimentation Within a Bedrock Valley System, Hraundalur, Iceland

Carrivick

Pringle

Russell

et al. 2007

JEEG

Self Cite

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Jö kulhlaups and lahars are both types of outburst flood that commonly comprise a glacial meltwater and volcaniclastic sediment mix, and have discharges that are typically several orders of magnitude greater than perennial flows. Both types thus constitute a serious threat to life, property and infrastructure but are too powerful and too short-lived for direct measurements of flow characteristics to be made. Consequently a variety of indirect methods have been used to reconstruct flow properties, processes and mechanisms. Unfortunately, limited observations of sedimentary architecture and stratigraphic relationships are hampering our ability to discriminate fluvial magnitude-frequency regimes and fluvial styles of deposition, particularly those produced by rapidly-varied flows. This paper therefore uses Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to obtain quantitative data on subsurface sedimentary character of high-magnitude outburst flood sediments, including architecture and stratigraphy, from a bedrock-valley system in north-central Iceland. Basement pillow lava and subaerial lava flows are characterised by chaotic and hummocky GPR reflectors with a lack of coherent structure. They also feature an upper rough surface as evidenced by concentration of hyperbolae point sources. Unconsolidated sedimentary units are interpreted due to occur where laterally-persistent horizontal and sub horizontal reflectors occur. Deposition produced spatially diverse sediments due to rapidlyvaried flow conditions. Observations include prograding and backfilling architecture, intercalated slope material and fluvial sediments, and multiphase sedimentary deposition. We suggest that these outburst flood sediments were initially deposited by traction load of coarsegrained material on prograding bedforms, and subsequently by drop-out from suspension of finer-grained material. The latter phase produced laterally extensive tabular sedimentary architectures that in-filled pre-existing topography and masked the complexity of bedrock forms beneath. Existing qualitative concepts of high-magnitude fluvial deposition within a topographically confined bedrock channel are therefore now refined with quantitative data on sediment architecture and thus on flow regimes.

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Geomorphological evidence for jökulhlaups from Kverkfjöll volcano, Iceland

Cited by 78 publications

References 45 publications

Glaciovolcanic hydrothermal environments in Iceland and implications for their detection on Mars

Glaciovolcanic hydrothermal environments in Iceland and implications for their detection on Mars

Structural and textural response to dynamics of fluvioglacial processes of the Rzymsko esker sediments, Central Poland

GPR-Derived Sedimentary Architecture and Stratigraphy of Outburst Flood Sedimentation Within a Bedrock Valley System, Hraundalur, Iceland

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