Variations in grain-size distribution of suspended sediment in a glacial meltwater stream, Austre Okstindbreen, Norway

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Thirty-nine samples of suspended sediment from the meltwater stream of Austre Okstindbreen, Norway, were analysed using both moments and parameters of the hyperbolic distribution. The samples turned out to be non-normally distributed. No direct correla tion was found between discharge and grain-size distribution, but it is supposed that the hydraulic influence is hidden behind factors like composition of morainic or stream-bed materia!' Through comparison of the grain-size parameters from two periods in the field season, it was possible to distinguish between two sediment populations.

Particle size characteristics of suspended sediment transported in meltwater from the Gangotri Glacier, central Himalaya — An indicator of subglacial sediment evacuation

“…Apparently, a relationship does not exist, which infers a nonhydraulic nature and influence of different parameters in the sediment evacuation (Karlsen, 1991). Our result, which suggests concentration of coarse particles is independent of discharge, leads to the conclusion that correlation between discharge and particle size is complex and depends on a combination of sediment availability and delivery restrictions, transport energy and erosive capabilities, and erosion and deposition (Fenn and Gomez, 1989;Walling and Moorehead, 1989;Karlsen, 1991;Slattery and Burt, 1997;Topping et al, 2000).…”

“…Apparently, a relationship does not exist, which infers a nonhydraulic nature and influence of different parameters in the sediment evacuation (Karlsen, 1991). Our result, which suggests concentration of coarse particles is independent of discharge, leads to the conclusion that correlation between discharge and particle size is complex and depends on a combination of sediment availability and delivery restrictions, transport energy and erosive capabilities, and erosion and deposition (Fenn and Gomez, 1989;Walling and Moorehead, 1989;Karlsen, 1991;Slattery and Burt, 1997;Topping et al, 2000). Although some alpine catchment studies do suggest a positive correlation between particle size and discharge (Rainwater and Guy, 1961;Lenzi et al, 2003), they are not necessarily a glaciated catchment or were measured several meters downstream of the terminus region where the influence of the glacier-bed condition decreases significantly.…”

Experimental Investigations of the Weathering of Suspended Sediment by Alpine Glacial Meltwater

“…Recent studies of suspended sediment variability in proglacial streams (e.g. Richards, 1984;Gurnell, 1987;Fenn and Gomez, 1989;Karlsen, 1991) suggest that particle size distributions in glacial meltwater streams are poorly defined. Fenn and Gomez (1989) illustrate subtle shifts around the mean grain size of medium silt (14.6 & 2.3 pm), rather than the inclusion and exclusion of sand-sized particles (c.f.…”

Characterization of glacial silt and clay using automated mineralogy

“…Zobeck et al, 1999; Paluszny and others, 2016; Ma and others, 2017). In addition, the exponential end-member of the hyperbolic distribution has been found to fit proglacial stream sediment ranging from clay- to coarse-sand size (Karlsen, 1991), though fluvial processes could be controlling the distribution of the coarse grains.…”