"Ablation Valley Glacier"This small un-named glacier flows from Io Peak and low mountains to the west, and displays a wide range of interesting features. Its tongue is divided by a large elevated area, informally named "The Mound", that has remained ice-free for a long time. |
!['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/15_ablation_valley_glacier_tongues.jpg) The two tongues of "Ablation Valley Glacier" on either side of a drift-covered bedrock mound. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/16_ablation_valley_glacier1_fluted_margin.jpg) Fluted margin of the glacier, resulting from differential ablation and meltwater. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/17_ablation_valley_glacier1_avalanche2.jpg) Several ice avalanches were observed at the head of the glacier. Here a slab of ice has detached completely from the bedrock on Io Peak. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/18_ablation_valley_glacier1_avalanche3.jpg) An avalanche from ice cliffs on the crest of the west ridge of Io Peak. Note the run-out distance of the main avalanche, and the ice-boulders that extended even further. |
!['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/19_ablation_valley_glaciers_io_peak.jpg) "Ablation Valley Glacier" and its accumulation area on Io Peak, seen from frozen Ablation Lake. A large ice-cored moraine complex is visible on the left. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/20_ablation_valley_glacier1_headwall.jpg) The ice-free headwall at the back of the glacier, and the zone where the ice tongue splits. "The Mound", with moraines is on the left. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/21_ablation_valley_glacier1_ice_towers.jpg) Ice towers on "Ablation Valley Glacier", which are the result of differential ablation of dirty and clean ice. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/22_ablation_valley_glacier1_pinnacles.jpg) Ice pinnacle at the apparent margin of "Ablation Valley Glacier". |
!['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/23_ablation_valley_glacier1_pool.jpg) Melt-pool at the apparent margin of "Ablation Valley Glacier", looking up-glacier. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/24_ablation_valley_glacier1_pool.jpg) The same melt-pool looking our towards George VI Ice Shelf. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/25_ablation_valley_glacier1_rough_ice.jpg) The rough surface of "Ablation Valley Glacier", resulting from differential ablation. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/26_ablation_valley_glacier1_blocks.jpg) Large supraglacial erratics of Jurassic-Cretaceous conglomerate occur near the snout of "Ablation Valley Glacier". Note the person for scale. |
!['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/27_ablation_valley_glacier1_boulder_cluster.jpg) Large supraglacial erratics of Jurassic-Cretaceous conglomerate and sandstone on the surface of "Ablation Valley Glacier", looking towards the source cliffs. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/28_ablation_valley_glacier1_boulders_peak.jpg) A view of the erratics in context, with Io Peak in the background. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/29_ablation_valley_glacier1_conglomerate.jpg) Close-up of the conglomerate in one of the erratics. The well-rounded appearance suggests deposition in a high-energy fluvial setting. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/30_ablation_valley_glacier1_bedrock_raft.jpg) A large bedrock "raft", detached by the glacier, transported and deposited in the terminal moraine complex. |
!['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/31_ablation_valley_glacier1_retreating_snout.jpg) The receding margin of "Ablation Valley Glacier", with characteristic ice ridges and pinnacles resulting from differential ablation. Large mounds of ice-cored moraine occur in front of the glacier. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/32_ablation_valley_glacier1_lateral_meltstream.jpg) Steep margin of "Ablation Valley Glacier", with incised ice-marginal meltstream. A small amount of meltwater is flowing in this early summer (November) photo. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/33_ablation_valley_glacier1_snout.jpg) Runnels formed by small streams on the steep snout of "Ablation Valley Glacier". | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/34_ablation_valley_glacier1_upper_mound_moraine.jpg) Moraine of sandy gravel at the bifurcation zone of "Ablation Valley Glacier", adjacent to "The Mound", with Io Peak in the background. |
!['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/35_ablation_valley_glacier1_snout_debris.jpg) Englacial cobble- and pebble-sized debris emerging from the snout of the glacier. None of this debris shows direct signs of glacial modification, suggesting that the glacier is cold-based. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/36_ablation_valley_glacier1_upper_mound_moraine.jpg) Moraine containing a cluster of large pale sandstone boulder adjacent to “The Mound”. Note the steeply dipping and folded Jurassic-Cretaceous strata in the background. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/37_ablation_valley_glacier1_upper_mound_frost_shattering.jpg) A laminated sandstone in moraine that has suffered severe frost-shattering. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/38_ablation_valley_glacier1_upper_mound_moraine_precipitate.jpg) A chemical precipitate of unknown composition, formed on a sandstone boulder in moraine. |
!['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/39_ablation_valley_glacier1_scree_moraine.jpg) The boundary between the steep scree slopes and ice-cored moraine, both made up of Jurassic-Cretaceous conglomerate. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/40_ablation_valley_glacier1_hummocky_moraine.jpg) Hummocky moraine below the snout of "Ablation Valley Glacier". This moraine is ice-cored. Beyond is Ablation Lake and George VI Ice Shelf. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/41_ablation_valley_glacier1_moraine_art.jpg) "Moraine art" created by Ian Hey. The well-rounded stones have weathered out from the Jurassic-Cretaceous conglomerate. | !['Ablation Valley Glacier' 'Ablation Valley Glacier'](icons/42_ablation_valley_glacier1_moraine_block.jpg) A giant block of conglomerate in the moraines below "Ablation Valley Glacier". Io Peak in the background. |
Photos Michael Hambrey, November and December 2012. |