Distribution of ice marginal moraines in NW Russia

Abstract

Here we present results from a mapping project on the distribution of glacial end moraine zones in NW Russia, covering an area from the Baltics in the west (30°E) to Taymyr Peninsula and Byrranga mountains (120°E) in the East. Several previous studies have been made in the area, but none have mapped end moraine zones in a uniform way over the whole field area. We suggest that our mapping of moraine distribution in NW Russia, covering an area of about 7 million km2 is the most consistent to date. Much of the mapped area lies north of 60°N and is thus outside coverage of the high-quality Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model. We have been using a new digital elevation data-set consisting of digitized Russian topographic maps (scales 1:100,000 and 1:200,000), combined with optical remote sensing data to map moraine zone distribution. The mapped moraines in this study are largely in agreement with recent reconstructions of former ice sheet extent in the area. However, several previously undocumented moraines have been identified and our results show that the last glacial maximum Scandinavian ice sheet probably extended further east into Russia than previously thought. In other areas, we also add considerable more detail on former ice sheet extent.