Environmental influences on the distribution of sediment within a water column at a tidewater glacier, Jorge Montt

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how certain factors present in the environment helped to direct the distribution of sediment within the water column at the Jorge Montt glacier in Chile. The developing behaviour of the sediment was documented along a transect leading away from the tidewater glacial source. Sediment layers were observed at concentrated depths at the ice face of the tidewater glacial. Sediment concentration decreased with increased distance from the ice face. It was determined that the sediment concentration per unit volume of water controlled the distribution of sediment within the depth of the fjord, while the bathymetry controlled the distribution along the length of the fjord.