| Title | Periglacial geomorphology and deglaciation at Barton and Weaver peninsulas (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) [Morfogénesis periglaciar y deglaciación en las penínsulas Barton y Weaver (islas Shetland del Sur, Antártida)] |
| Author | Serrano, E.; López Martínez, J. |
| Author Affil | Serrano, E., Universidad de Valladolid, Departamento Geografía, Valladolid, Spain. Other: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain |
| Source | Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, Sección Geologica, 99(1- 4), p.131-140, . Publisher: Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, Madrid, Spain. ISSN: 0583-7510 |
| Publication Date | 2004 |
| Notes | In Spanish with English summary. 32 refs. GeoRef Acc. No: 288511. CRREL Acc. No: 63001052 |
| Index Terms | beaches; geomorphology; glacial geology; landforms; periglacial processes; coastal topographic features; shores; Antarctica--King George Island; Antarctica; Barton Peninsula; Cenozoic; deglaciation; erosion features; gelifluction; glacial features; Holocene; King George Island; landform evolution; marine terraces; Marion Inlet; Maxwell Bay; moraines; paleoenvironment; periglacial environment; periglacial features; platforms; playas; Quaternary; Scotia Sea Islands; shore features; shorelines; South Shetland Islands; Weaver Peninsula |
| Abstract | Weaver and Barton peninsulas are located in the western side of King George Island (South Shetland Islands), next to Maxwell Bay and separated by Marian Cove. The climate is cold maritime with the annual isotherm -2°C close to sea level. The geomorphology is characterised by the presence of glacial and periglacial landforms as well as by extensive raised marine beaches and erosive platforms. There is evidence of seven sea levels between the Holocene raised beaches and 260 m a.s.l. There are also signs of intense recent and present periglacial activity, with the presence of a great diversity of periglacial landforms. The recent glacial evolution is characterised by the transition from a glacial to a periglacial environment. The periglacial landforms are on glacial features located in recently deglaciated areas. The erosional and depositional glacial landforms can be interpreted as four morainic complexes. Apart of retreat and little glacial advances, sea level changes and periglacial processes occurred also in late Quaternary. 50% of the total periglacial features and landforms associated to active layer (mainly patterned ground and stone fields) suppose 50% of the total periglacial features and the resting 50% corresponds to gelifluction and gravitational features. Two morphodynamic subsystems can be distinguished: on platforms and on slopes. Frost action related to active layer, cryoturbation and frost shattering are the most common processes linked to the platforms morphodynamic subsystem. In the slopes morphodynamic subsystem frost shattering, gelifluction, rock fall, frozen body flow, nivation, debris and mud flows, cryoturbation and slides are dominant. An evaluation of the periglacial landforms distribution by altitude has been carried out. Patterned ground and gelifluction are mainly present in altitudes above 100 m a.s.l. However gelifraction and block fields are present at all altitudes. |
| Publication Type | journal article |
| Record ID | 85163 |