A review of the literature on the formation and location of drumlins

Menzies, John

doi:10.1016/0012-8252(79)90093-x

Cited by 136 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…A till squeeze theory was developed by Stalker (1960), who suggested that saturated till may be squeezed or 'pressed up' into subglacial cavitites at the base of the ice sheet which are aligned parallel to the ice-ow direction. However, as Menzies (1979) noted, while the theory appears sound the scale of the process remains unknown. We reject this hypothesis because it is dif cult to conceptualize a plausible process of ice dynamics that can produce this effect over whole drumlin elds.…”

Section: Is Elongation Ratio a Useful Proxy For Ice Velocity?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, clear-cut relationships have often remained elusive. In a comprehensive review of the drumlin literature, Menzies (1979) commented that 'many relationships that have been suggested in the past remain untested and therefore exist only as hypothetical statements'. Here, we examine the assumption that attenuated drumlins and mega-scale glacial lineations are indicative of fast ice ow.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jauhiainen (1975) analysed several drumlin elds in north Central Europe and concluded that the large variability in elongation ratios both within and between individual drumlin elds can be explained by variations in ice pressures. This work was criticized by Menzies (1979) because it failed to recognize the importance of the differing properties of the underlying sediment. For example, in the Woodstock drumlin eld, Ontario, Canada, Piotrowski (1987) found that smaller, more elongate drumlins are comprised mainly of ner grained material, whereas the larger more 'oval' drumlins are comprised of generally coarser grained till.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are long subglacial bedforms indicative of fast ice flow?

Stokes¹,

Clark²

2002

Boreas

188

103

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Section: Is Elongation Ratio a Useful Proxy For Ice Velocity?mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are long subglacial bedforms indicative of fast ice flow?

Stokes¹,

Clark²

2002

Boreas

188

103

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“…However, this interpretation is not compatible with their shape, their limited longitudinal extent, the lack of extended, ridge-like alignment among them and the variability of their composition. Instead, the foregoing characteristics lead to the appellation of drumlins, i.e., subglacial elongated hills (Menzies, 1979). Their absence in some parts of the valley (Fig.…”

Section: Hill Geomorphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentological and GPR Studies of Subglacial Deposits in the Joux Valley (Vaud, Switzerland): Backset Accretion in an Esker Followed by an Erosive Jökulhlaup

Fiore

Pugin

Beres

2004

gpq

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During the Würmian glaciation, the Jura ice sheet covered the Joux Valley (Vaud, Switzerland). A geomorphological study reveals many drumlins in this valley. Some are composed of gravels and sand, others of till. Outcrops show that the surface of the sandy-gravel drumlins is a major and sharp erosion surface. Given the lack of shearing structures in sediments below this erosion level, its origin cannot be linked to ice action of the glacier. Very high-energy subglacial meltwater floods (jökulhlaups), probably due to the drainage of subglacial or supra-glacial lakes, are the more likely cause of the erosion. Results of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey show the internal structure of one of these sandy-gravel drumlins to depth of 15 m. These GPR data, together with sedimentological observations, indicate that prior to erosion, subglacial sedimentation occurred in closed conduits (eskers) with strong and rapid flow variations. The sediments contain large chute-and-pool structures (high flow energy backset accretion) with dimensions comparable to the conduit width. Therefore, we interpret these sandy-gravel drumlins as portions of eskers, their present drumlin shape being the result of erosion by one or many jökulhlaups.The good preservation of the subglacial meltwater deposits is the result of the closed-basin geometry of the Joux Valley, which limited movement at the base of the glacier. This new contribution to the interpretation of the Joux Valley glacial features underlines the importance of meltwater in sedimentological processes under the Jura ice sheet.Durant la glaciation würmienne, la calotte glaciaire jurassienne recouvrait la vallée de Joux (Vaud, Suisse). Une étude géomorphologique du fond de cette vallée révèle la présence de nombreux drumlins composés de sables et de graviers stratifiés ou de till. Les affleurements montrent que la surface des drumlins gravelo-sableux correspond à une surface d’érosion importante. Étant donné l’absence de structures de cisaillement dans les sédiments sous-jacents, l’origine de cette érosion ne peut être liée au mouvement du glacier et serait due à un écoulement sous-glaciaire important (jökulhlaup) résultant du drainage rapide d’un ou plusieurs lacs supra-glaciaires ou sous-glaciaires. Une campagne géoradar sur un de ces drumlins gravelo-sableux montre sa structure interne jusqu’à 15 m de profondeur. Ces données géoradar, associées à des observations sédimentologiques, montrent qu’avant l’érosion, la sédimentation sous-glaciaire avait lieu dans des conduits fermés (eskers) avec de fortes et rapides variations de courant. Les sédiments présentent de grandes structures de chute-and-pool (accrétion en backsets liée à un fort courant) aux dimensions similaires à la largeur du conduit. Nous interprétons ces drumlins gravelo-sableux comme des portions d’eskers ayant acquis leur forme actuelle à la suite d’un ou plusieurs jökulhlaups. La bonne préservation des dépôts sous-glaciaires est attribuable à la géométrie de bassin fermé de la vallée de Joux, qui limitait le mou...

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“…Drumlins are elongate hills, typically 100 s m long and up to a few 10 s of metres high (Clark, Hughes, Greenwood, Spagnolo, & Ng, 2009;Menzies, 1979;Smith et al, 2007;Spagnolo, Clark, & Hughes, 2012;Wellner, Lowe, Shipp, & Anderson, 2001). They are very likely formed subglacially, parallel to ice flow (Johnson et al, 2010;King, Hindmarsh, & Stokes, 2009;Smith et al, 2007), and, as they can persist in the landscape, they encode information on the location and direction of flow of former ice cover (e.g.…”

Section: Choice Of Landformmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manual mapping of drumlins in synthetic landscapes to assess operator effectiveness

et al. 2014

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Mapped topographic features are important for understanding processes that sculpt the Earth's surface. This paper presents maps that are the primary product of an exercise that brought together 27 researchers with an interest in landform mapping wherein the efficacy and causes of variation in mapping were tested using novel synthetic DEMs containing drumlins. The variation between interpreters (e.g. mapping philosophy, experience) and across the study region (e.g. woodland prevalence) opens these factors up to assessment. A priori known answers in the synthetics increase the number and strength of conclusions that may be drawn with respect to a traditional comparative study. Initial results suggest that overall detection rates are relatively low (34-40%), but reliability of mapping is higher (72-86%). The maps form a reference dataset.

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A review of the literature on the formation and location of drumlins

Cited by 136 publications

References 81 publications

Are long subglacial bedforms indicative of fast ice flow?

Are long subglacial bedforms indicative of fast ice flow?

Sedimentological and GPR Studies of Subglacial Deposits in the Joux Valley (Vaud, Switzerland): Backset Accretion in an Esker Followed by an Erosive Jökulhlaup

Manual mapping of drumlins in synthetic landscapes to assess operator effectiveness

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