Jökull


Jökull - 01.01.2004, Síða 49

Jökull - 01.01.2004, Síða 49
Sediment thickness and erosion rates within Hvítárvatn, central Iceland reflectors in the seismic record (e.g., Unit 3, Figure 8). The lowest 0.2 m of 02HVT-04 is markedly dif- ferent from the overlying laminated sequence. The sediment in this interval is characterized by poorly to faintly stratified, mottled gray to greenish-gray sedi- ment. The contact between the gray, finely stratified stratigraphic unit and the more massive lower unit is distinct. The lithostratigraphic break corresponds to a change in the seismic reflections, from a series of thin reflectors at higher levels, to poorly defined, moder- ately strong reflectors at deeper levels. We use the lithostratigraphic break near the base of core 02HVT- 04 to define the Unit 2/Unit 3 boundary. Character- istic acoustic properties of each unit allow us to trace this boundary across the sediment fill. Seismic Unit 2 is characterized by a series of poorly defined reflectors, bounded by strong reflec- tors. This unit is the thinnest of the four seismostrati- graphic units, ranging between 0.5 and 5.9 m. Unit 2 has a volume of 2.6x107 m3 and a mass of 4.4x1013 g (Table 1). Unit 2 thickens toward Fúlakvísl (Fig- ure 9b), the main stream feeding the Hvítárnes Delta, suggesting this was the dominant sediment delivery system during deposition of Unit 2. This interpreta- tion is supported by the observed thinning of Unit 2 both north and south of the delta. Seismic Unit 3 is composed of a series of thin re- flectors, interrupted at random intervals by stronger reflectors (c.f., Figure 8). Its thickness (1.4 m to 21.3 m) is similar to that of Unit 1. Unit 3 has a vol- ume of 9.7x107 m3 and a mass of 16.5x1013 g (Table 1). Unlike the underlying units, the sediments of Unit 3 (Figure 9c) are thickest at the north end of the North- ern Flats, where the inflow stream Fróðá enters the lake, and thin rapidly toward the south. The streams feeding the Hvítárnes Delta do not appear to be im- portant sources of sediment at this time. Core 02HVT-05 has two main stratigraphic units: a thickly laminated, brown unit that overlies a more finely laminated gray unit, similar to the upper por- tions of 02HVT-04. Ice Rafted Debris (IRD) is present visibly and in x-rays in the upper thickly lam- inated, brown unit. The contact between the upper brown unit and the lower gray unit is distinct. The change in lithostratigraphic character between these two units corresponds with a change in the acoustic signature from weak reflectors with scattered stronger reflectors, to a dominance of very weak reflectors. This forms the basis of the subdivision between seis- mic Units 3 and 4. Seismic Unit 4 is characterized by well-defined reflectors, typically more reflective than underlying Unit 3. Parabolic reflectors, possibly indicative of dropstones, are locally common in Unit 4, but are not present in underlying units (Figure 8). This suggests outlet glaciers were calving into Hvítárvatn during de- position of Unit 4, but not earlier. This interpretation is supported by x-radiography of cores 02HVT-04 and 02HVT-05 in which small stones (IRD) are apparent only in the upper 3 m of 02HVT-05. The thickness of Unit 4 ranges from 1.4 m to 21.0 m, similar to Unit 3; it has a volume of 8.1x107 m3 and a mass of 13.6x1013 g (Table 1). The isopach map of Unit 4 shows a very different distribution than for underly- ing Unit 3 (Figure 9c,d). The major sediment source shifted to the Hvítárnes Delta, with sediment deliv- ered to the lake along the entire length of the delta front, presumably indicating a period of active delta progradation. Sediment thickness drops quickly both north and south of the delta. The river Fróðá was not a major source of sediment at this time. Sediment deliv- ery also was not from a point source as it was during deposition of Unit 2. The Central Deep received a larger input of Unit 4 sediment than of Units 2 or 3. The isopach map of Unit 4 sediment is used to infer the rapid progradation of the Hvítárnes Delta. To test this interpretation we positioned sediment core 02HVT-03 near the base of the delta front, where the acoustic signal suggested common slope failure along the slip face of the delta (Figure 7). The upper 2.3 m of the 5.1 m long core are characterized by disturbed, finely stratified sediment. This level of disturbance is consistent with frequent, thin, sediment-gravity flows. The lower 2.8 m of the core are finely laminated with minimal disturbance. We interpret the core to reflect the progradation of an unstable delta slip face over the core site during deposition of Unit 4, consistent with the seismic interpretation of a rapidly prograding delta with heavy sediment loads and regular instabil- ity along the delta front. JÖKULL No. 54 49
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