Scholarly record
AN ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY SUBGLACIAL FAULT ZONES ON THE BASIS OF GPR SOUNDINGS IN GLACIERS OF SOUTHERN SPITSBERGEN - A CASE STUDY
Abstract
According to the geological maps of southern Spitsbergen, faults commonly run parallel to the glacier valleys' axis. General faults orientation is N-S and NNW-SSE. This may suggest, that the origin of glacier valleys is related to tectonics due to development of structural landforms on individual faults. The network of ground penetrating radar (GPR) profiles based on measurements on three glaciers of southern Spitsbergen: Recherchebreen, Hansbreen and Werenskioldbreen, was processed and interpreted for the presence of fault zone within their bedding. Discontinuities and geological thresholds were identified on GPR profiles within subglacial structure. Obtained results were correlated with fault zones designated on the geological maps and then three-dimensional models of geological subglacial structures for selected glaciers were built in the Petrel software. The fault zones were illustratively presented in 3D imaging. The analysis suggests, that part of the structures identified on the GPR profiles refer to fault zones system presented on the geological maps. It is planned to conduct similar analyzes for other glaciers in southern Spitsbergen. The further steps will aim to develop full three-dimensional geological model of the southern Spitsbergen, that will allow to select a potentially active tectonic fault zones within this area. They might be potentially important for basal conditions of certain glaciers.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References15
Błaszczyk M., Jania J., Kolondra L., Fluctuations of tidewater glaciers in Hornsund Fjord (Southern Svalbard) since the beginning of the 20th century. Polish Polar Research, Poland, vol. 34/issue 4, pp 327-352, 2013.
Książkiewicz M., Geologia dynamiczna. Wydawnictwa Geologiczne, Warszawa, Poland, 1959.
Mizerski W., Geologia dynamiczna. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa, Poland, 2006.
Karczewski A., Geomorfologia rejonu fiordu Hornsund, Spitsbergen. Uniwersytet Śląski, Katowice, Poland, 1984.
Harland W. B. (ed.), The Geology of Svalbard. Memoirs of the Geological Society of London, UK, vol. 18, pp 521, 1998.
Elvevold S., Dallmann W, Blomeier D., Geology of Svalbard. Norwegian Polar Institute - Polar Environmental Centre, Tromsø, Norway, 2007.
Jokat W., Kollofrath J., Geissler W. H., Jensen L., Crustal thickness and earthquake distribution south of the Logachev Seamount, Knipovich Ridge. Geophysical Research Letters, US, vol. 34, L08302, 2012.
Grabiec M., Jania J., Puczko D., Kolondra L., Budzik T., Surface and bed morphology of Hansbreen, a tidewater glacier in Spitsbergen. Polish Polar Research, Poland, vol. 38/issue 2, pp 111-138, 2012.
Navarro F.J., Martin-Espanol A., Lapazaran J.J., Grabiec M., Otero J., Vasilenko E.V., Puczko D., Ice volume estimates from ground penetrating radar surveys, Wedel Jarlsberg Land glaciers, Svalbard. Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research, vol. 46/issue 2, pp 394-406, 2014.
Grabiec M., Budzik T., Głowacki P., Modelling and Hindcasting of the Mass Balance of Werenskioldbreen (Southern Svalbard). Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, US, vol. 44/issue 2, pp 164-179, 2012.
Grabiec M., Stan i współczesne zmiany systemów lodowcowych Svalbardu. Wyd. Uniw. Śląskiego, Poland (in press), 2017.
Bergh S. G., Grogan P., Tertiary structure of the Sørkapp-Hornsund Region, South Spitsbergen, and implications for the offshore southern extension of the fold-thrust Belt. Norwegian Journal of Geology, Norway, vol. 83, pp 43-60, 2003.
Korona J., Berthier E., Bernard M., Remy F., Thouvenot E., SPIRIT. SPOT 5 stereoscopic survey of Polar Ice: Reference Images and Topographies during the fourth International Polar Year (2007–2009). Isprs Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, vol. 64, pp 204–212, 2009.
Dallman W.K., Hjelle. A, Ohta Y., Salvigsen O., Bjomerud M.G., Hauser E.C., Maher H.D., Craddock C. (eds.), Geological map of Svalbard 1:100 000. Sheet B11G. Van Keulenfjorden. Norsk Polar Institututt Temakart, nr 29, 1990.
Ohta Y., Dallman W.K. (eds.), Geological map of Svalbard 1:100 000. Sheet B12G. Tollerbreen. Norsk Polar Institututt Temakart, nr 29, 1999.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
