Ice-Cored Moraines in Southern British Columbia and Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Based upon experience from air photo interpretation in Scandinavia where ice-cored moraines were identified in the pictures, a similar survey was carried out for an area in southern British Columbia and Alberta. The distribution of various types of end moraine ridges was determined from medium and high altitude photographs and the results plotted on a map on the scale of 1:2,000,000. On the same map the glacier distribution was transferred from the Canadian glacier map (Falconer et al. 1966). The height of the glaciation limit (Østrem 1966b) was also indicated on the map by contour lines.

The result of this investigation indicates that the proportion of ice-cored end moraines increases from the coast inland. The highest ratio of ice-cored end moraines is found in areas where the glaciation limit reaches its highest altitudes. These areas generally have the most continental climate, and permafrost will be found above certain elevations.