Glacial Landforms
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Citation Stolt, M., D.L. Lindbo, R. Miles, and D. Mokma. 2005. 2. Glacial Landforms Power Point Presentation. in (D.L. Lindbo and N. E. Deal eds.) Model Decentralized Wastewater Practitioner Curriculum. National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Glacial Landforms and Deposits Textures and properties vary depending on deposit Till dense, low permeability Outwash sandy, high permeability Lacustrine fine textured, low permeability Properties directly related to suitability for decentralized wastewater use
Overview Ice Deposited Till Drumlin Morraine Proglacial Outwash Plain Lacustrine Ice Contact Esker Kame Kame Terrace Kettle Hole
Till Unsorted, unstratified materials deposited directly from glacial ice. Generally, dense and low permeability
Drumlin: Cigar-shaped landform with the long axis parallel to the direction of the ice flow. Primarily composed of compacted, unsorted materials churned at the base of the glacier (basal till). May contain looser unstratified materials (ablation till) above the dense till.
Recessional End Morraine: Landform built during the retreat of the glacier. Usually a series of ridges composed of glaciofluvial materials and till.
Terminal End Morraine: Landform built during the retreat of the glacier. Occurs at the furthest extent of the glacial lobe. Usually a complex series of ridges composed of glaciofluvial materials and till.
Ground Morraine: Low-lying landform with some undulation formed of ablation and basal till.
Esker: Long, narrow sinuous steep-sided sided ridge composed of irregularly stratified sand and gravel that was deposited by a subsurface stream under the glacier (tunnel). Commonly range in length from ¼ - 10 s of miles. Range from 10 to 75 ft in height.
Kame: A mound-like hill of stratified sand and gravel formed from collapse of glaciofluvial sediments after the melting of stagnant ice.
Kame Terrace: Terrace like feature consisting of stratified sand and gravel deposited by a stream flowing between the valley wall and the glacier.
Kettle Holes: Circular depressions formed from the burial of isolated blocks of ice and subsequent melting of the ice. Kettle holes often are filled with water making small regularly shaped ponds.
Outwash Plain: Commonly smooth landform of low relief in a valley floor composed of coarse-textured glaciofluvial deposit.
Lacustrine Plain: Commonly a smooth plain with low relief, may be strongly undulating if cover upland landforms. Composed of fine to medium textured sediments deposited in glacial lakes.
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Dune Although not specifically a glacial feature, dunes wind deposited and sculpted ridges - often occur pro-glacial, on outwash plains and associated glacial lakes
Glacial Delta Outwash deposits from melt water streams in glacial lakes. Often coarse textured, well graded, bedded and sorted
Glacial Landforms Highly variable in shape and size Ubiquitous across the northern, glaciated regions of North America The type of landform can be easily related to properties of importance to septic systems