A time-series of evolving glacial geomorphology for Esjufjallajökull (Breiðamerkurjökull), southeast Iceland

Amy Lally; Alastair Ruffell; Andrew Newton; Robert Storrar; Thorsten Kahlert; Conor Graham; Brice Rea; Matteo Spagnolo

doi:10.1080/17445647.2025.2480798

A time-series of evolving glacial geomorphology for Esjufjallajökull (Breiðamerkurjökull), southeast Iceland

Amy Lally^*
, Alastair Ruffell
, Andrew Newton
, Robert Storrar
, Thorsten Kahlert
, Conor Graham
, Brice Rea
, Matteo Spagnolo

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents four glacial geomorphology maps depicting glacier retreat and landscape evolution between September 2021 and May 2023 at Esjufjallajökull, the central flow unit of Breiðamerkurjökull, southeast Iceland. The foreland, which deglaciated between 2010 and 2023, was mapped from repeat uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) survey data. A total of 16 landform types were identified, and their spatial distribution and morphological evolution provide valuable insights into ice and meltwater dynamics during deglaciation. The time-series reveals spatiotemporal variations in landform assemblages: a buried ice environment characterising the western study area, proglacial lakes, hummocky meltwater tracts and eskers dominating the central zone, and meltwater eroded spillways further east. The maps cover an area ranging from 2 to 5.4 km², at a scale ranging between 1:4000 and 1:5000.

Original language	English
Article number	2480798
Number of pages	17
Journal	Journal of Maps
Volume	21
Issue number	1
Early online date	4 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2025.2480798
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

We wish to thank the reviewers, Luis Tanarro, Elina Ahokangas and Ben Stoker for their constructive feedback, which improved the quality of the final maps and manuscript.

Data Availability Statement

Data contained within the map series are available upon request.

Funding

This research was supported by UKRI-funded QUADRAT DTP under grant NE/S007377/1, British Society for Geomorphology and Quaternary Research Association. AL was funded by UKRI QUADRAT Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) studentship (NE/S007377/1). AMWN was funded by British Society for Geomorphology Early Career Researcher fund and RDS received funding from the Quaternary Research Association. We would like to especially thank Sigur\u00F0ur \u00D3skar J\u00F3nsson of Vatnaj\u00F6kull National Park for supplying us with site advice and research permits.

Funders	Funder number
British Society for Geomorphology and Quaternary Research Association
British Society for Geomorphology
UKRI-funded
UK Research and Innovation	NE/S007377/1

Keywords

Breiðamerkurjökull
Glacial geomorphology
Iceland
temperate glacier
UAV

Access to Document

10.1080/17445647.2025.2480798Licence: CC BY

Lally_etal_JoM_A_Time-Series_of_VOR
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Final published version, 4.25 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "A time-series of evolving glacial geomorphology for Esjufjallaj{\"o}kull (Brei{\dh}amerkurj{\"o}kull), southeast Iceland",

abstract = "This paper presents four glacial geomorphology maps depicting glacier retreat and landscape evolution between September 2021 and May 2023 at Esjufjallaj{\"o}kull, the central flow unit of Brei{\dh}amerkurj{\"o}kull, southeast Iceland. The foreland, which deglaciated between 2010 and 2023, was mapped from repeat uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) survey data. A total of 16 landform types were identified, and their spatial distribution and morphological evolution provide valuable insights into ice and meltwater dynamics during deglaciation. The time-series reveals spatiotemporal variations in landform assemblages: a buried ice environment characterising the western study area, proglacial lakes, hummocky meltwater tracts and eskers dominating the central zone, and meltwater eroded spillways further east. The maps cover an area ranging from 2 to 5.4 km2, at a scale ranging between 1:4000 and 1:5000.",

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author = "Amy Lally and Alastair Ruffell and Andrew Newton and Robert Storrar and Thorsten Kahlert and Conor Graham and Brice Rea and Matteo Spagnolo",

note = " We wish to thank the reviewers, Luis Tanarro, Elina Ahokangas and Ben Stoker for their constructive feedback, which improved the quality of the final maps and manuscript.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1080/17445647.2025.2480798",

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AU - Lally, Amy

AU - Ruffell, Alastair

AU - Newton, Andrew

AU - Storrar, Robert

AU - Kahlert, Thorsten

AU - Graham, Conor

AU - Rea, Brice

AU - Spagnolo, Matteo

N1 - We wish to thank the reviewers, Luis Tanarro, Elina Ahokangas and Ben Stoker for their constructive feedback, which improved the quality of the final maps and manuscript.

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Y1 - 2025

N2 - This paper presents four glacial geomorphology maps depicting glacier retreat and landscape evolution between September 2021 and May 2023 at Esjufjallajökull, the central flow unit of Breiðamerkurjökull, southeast Iceland. The foreland, which deglaciated between 2010 and 2023, was mapped from repeat uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) survey data. A total of 16 landform types were identified, and their spatial distribution and morphological evolution provide valuable insights into ice and meltwater dynamics during deglaciation. The time-series reveals spatiotemporal variations in landform assemblages: a buried ice environment characterising the western study area, proglacial lakes, hummocky meltwater tracts and eskers dominating the central zone, and meltwater eroded spillways further east. The maps cover an area ranging from 2 to 5.4 km2, at a scale ranging between 1:4000 and 1:5000.

AB - This paper presents four glacial geomorphology maps depicting glacier retreat and landscape evolution between September 2021 and May 2023 at Esjufjallajökull, the central flow unit of Breiðamerkurjökull, southeast Iceland. The foreland, which deglaciated between 2010 and 2023, was mapped from repeat uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) survey data. A total of 16 landform types were identified, and their spatial distribution and morphological evolution provide valuable insights into ice and meltwater dynamics during deglaciation. The time-series reveals spatiotemporal variations in landform assemblages: a buried ice environment characterising the western study area, proglacial lakes, hummocky meltwater tracts and eskers dominating the central zone, and meltwater eroded spillways further east. The maps cover an area ranging from 2 to 5.4 km2, at a scale ranging between 1:4000 and 1:5000.

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KW - temperate glacier

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ER -

A time-series of evolving glacial geomorphology for Esjufjallajökull (Breiðamerkurjökull), southeast Iceland

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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