GLACIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY - MODELING PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS

The primary goal of glacial geomorphology is to provide physically-bas ed explanations of the past, present and future impacts of glaciers an d ice sheets on landform and landscape development. To achieve this re quires the integration of studies of landform with studies of the proc esses responsible for form development (over a wide range of spatial a nd temporal scales). During the twentieth century significant improvem ents in approaches to recognizing and describing glacial landforms hav e been matched by impressive advances in understanding and modeling ic e flow and glacial erosion and deposition processes. At present proces s models are being tested explicitly in terms of predicting the develo pment of known forms (which also provides new insight into the control s on form development). Evaluations of the implications of deformable beds for process and form development are also being attempted. Finall y, we are reassessing long-held beliefs about the significance of glac ial action in landform development and sediment production. As we head towards the twenty-first century, glacial geomorphology will advance through the use of three-dimensional numerical models that include ice flow, basal sliding (with explicit consideration of deformable beds), erosion and deposition processes, and underlying material characteris tics. These models will be used to address form evolution and test pro cess models, and will include both the temporal and spatial aspects of form development. Space-based landform recognition, as well as the ch allenges presented by the concerns of global change, will place height ened emphasis on large-scale problems, which will include reexaminatio n of the basic significance of glacial versus nonglacial action in lan dform development and sediment production.