<p>Extensive assemblages of glacial erosional features are commonly observed on bedrock outcrops in deglaciated landscapes. There is considerable debate regarding the origins of many subglacial erosional landforms, due to a relative paucity of detailed data concerning these features and a need for improved understanding of the subglacial processes that may form them. This study presents detailed documentation and maps of assemblages of glacial erosional features from select field sites throughout the Great Lakes basins. The characteristics and spatial distribution of p-forms exposed on variable substrates at the Whitefish Falls, Vineland, Pelee Island and Kelleys Island field sites were investigated in order to determine the mode of p-form origin to identify significant spatial and temporal variability in subglacial processes operating at these locations. Observations from this work suggest that p-forms evolve through multiple phases of erosion, whereby glacial ice initially abrades the bedrock surface, leaving behind streamlined bedrock highs, striations and glacial grooves. Subsequent erosion by vortices in turbulent subglacial meltwater sculpts the flanks of bedrock highs and grooves into p-forms. These forms are subjected to a second phase of subglacial abrasion that ornaments the sinuous, sharp rimmed features with linear striae. The presence of multi-directional (‘chaotic’) striae at some sites suggests erosion by saturated till may contribute to, but is not essential for p-form development. Investigation in the Halton Hills region of Ontario focused on modeling bedrock topography in order to delineate the extent and geometry of buried bedrock valleys thought to host potential municipal significant aquifer units. Various approaches to subsurface modeling were investigated in the Halton Hills region using a combination of primary data (collected from boreholes and outcrop), intermediate data collected through aerial photography and consultant reports, and extensively screened low quality data from the Ontario Waterwell Database. A new, ‘quality weighted’ approach to modeling variable quality data was explored but proved ineffective for the purposes of this study, as differential weighting of high and low quality data either over-smoothed the model or significantly altered data values. A series of models were interpolated and compared using calculated RMSE values derived from model cross-validation. The preferred bedrock topography model of the Halton Hills region had the lowest RMSE score, and allowed identification of three major buried bedrock valleys systems (the Georgetown, Acton and 16 Mile Creek buried valleys) which contain up to 40 – 50 m of Quaternary infill. These valleys were likely carved through a combination of fluvial and glacial erosion during the late Quaternary period, and their orientation may be influenced by pre-existing structural weaknesses in the bedrock. Future work on subglacial erosional landforms should focus on the temporal scale in which subglacial processes, through association with other subglacial landforms and dating methods.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/11035 |
| Date | 10 1900 |
| Creators | Puckering, Stacey L. |
| Contributors | Eyles, Carolyn H., Geography and Earth Sciences |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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