DISTRIBUTION, ACTIVITY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ALPINE-TYPE GLACIERS OF NORTHERN PRINCE-CHARLES-MOUNTAINS, EAST ANTARCTICA

Alpine-type valley and cirque glaciers occur in many massifs in the no rthern Prince Charles Mountains. A total of forty-seven glaciers have been investigated using maps and aerial photographs, and in the summer of 1991-92 seventeen of these were examined in the field. The distrib ution of these glaciers and their present-day snowline line altitudes appear to be influenced by their location with respect to snow-bearing winds, particularly the summer winds that bring moisture from the ope n waters of Prydz Bay. Moraine morphologies indicate that these glacie rs advance and retreat out-of-phase with the larger ice sheet outlet g laciers. During the last glacial maximum the alpine-type glaciers retr eated while the ice sheet outlet glaciers showed a minor expansion. Th is is believed to be due to the alpine-type glaciers being starved of snowfall as the expanded last glacial maximum sea-ice cover around the continent would have removed their maritime moisture sources. Recent contrasts in the behaviour of the alpine glaciers may reflect changes in summer sea ice extent in Prydz Bay.