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An approach to modelling the impact of snow drift on glaciation in the Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland
Author(s) -
Purves Ross S.,
Mackaness William A.,
Sugden David E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of quaternary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.142
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-1417
pISSN - 0267-8179
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1417(199907)14:4<313::aid-jqs457>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - younger dryas , geology , snow , massif , glacial period , glacier , physical geography , climatology , paleontology , geomorphology , geography
This paper uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to develop a rule‐based model of the effect of snow drifting on glacier growth in the Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland during the Younger Dryas interval. We develop a qualitative model of snow drift that uses a number of simple heuristics to generate a map of relative accumulation at a 50‐m resolution over the massif. Relative susceptibility to snow drifting is then compared for a number of different zones under varying wind directions. We conclude that, under the conditions tested in our model, glaciation of the Cairngorms during the Younger Dryas was confined to the high corries and that the pattern of snow drifting suggested by our model points to dominant southerly winds. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.