Recent “Annual” Moraine Ridges at Austre Okstindbreen, Okstindan, North Norway

Abstract

A series of minor moraine ridges lying on a lodgement till surface in front of the glacier Austre Okstindbreen are described. The available chronological control suggests that from 1957 through to 1970 a new ridge was formed each winter and that this pattern of annual production is probably also applicable to the period back to circa 1950. During the winter months of 1970/71 and 1971/72 the glacier advanced and deformed the ice cover of a marginal lake which now isolates the till areas from the ice margin. It is concluded that the ridges are true “annual” moraines formed primarily by ice push although the operation of a squeeze process during their genesis is not rejected.