The Nature and Origin of Debris Layers within Glacier De Tsidjiore Nouve, Valais, Switzerland

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Abstract
The development of medial moraines on the Glacier de Tsidjiore Nouve is related to numerous englacial debris layers of limited dimensions, which are exposed at the glacier surface below the Pigne d’Arolla ice fall. Previous research has suggested that such layers result either from high-level transport of debris, derived from rock weathering and/or glacial erosion in the accumulation zone, or from shearing up of subglacial debris owing to intense compressive stresses in the glacier. The morphology of the debris layers is investigated in the field, and samples are subjected to particle-size analysis. It is concluded that constituent debris is derived largely from exposed faces of rock between the upper and lower firn basins, but that a subglacial component is present. Entry of the debris into the glacier is possibly by way of crevasses on the lower firn basin.