CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : McCarthy, D.P.; and Smith, D.J.
Date : 1994
Title : Historical glacier activity in the vicinity of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Canadian Rocky Mountains
Publication : Western Geography
Issue : 4:
Page(s) : 94-109
Abstract
Ice-front chronologies for 19 glacier termini in the vicinity of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park have been mapped from historical topographical surveys and enlarged aerial photographs. Data show that the areas covered by these glaciers decreased by 15 to 80 percent between 1916 and 1988 with terminus retreat rates averaging between 20 and 157 m yr-1. Despite this trend of overall retreat, an advance of ca. 30 m was detected between 1969 and 1972 at Elk Glacier. Advances are also suspected at Putnik Glacier (1976 to 1983) and Sir Douglas Glacier (ca. 1970). The present study did not confirm a relationship between climatic changes and terminus fluctuations. Considerable spatial and temporal variability was detected in the response of these glaciers to historical climatic fluctuations. The lack of a clear trend was attributed to the variable influences of local topographic variables on frontal dynamics.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology