Outwash plain

This article is about the glacial geographical feature. For the non-glacier related feature, see Alluvial plain.
Skeiðarársandur in Iceland, viewed from its eastern margin at the terminus of Svínafellsjökull glacier

An outwash plain, also called a sandur (plural: sandurs[1]), sandr[2] or sandar,[3] is a plain formed of glaciofluvial deposits due to meltwater outwash at the terminus of a glacier. As it flows, the glacier grinds the underlying rock surface and carries the debris along. The meltwater at the snout of the glacier deposits its load of sediment over the outwash plain, with larger boulders being deposited near the terminal moraine, and smaller particles travelling further before being deposited. Sandurs are common in Iceland where geothermal activity accelerates the melting of ice flows and the deposition of sediment by meltwater.

  1. ^ Ritter, Dale F., R. Craig Kochel, & Jerry Russell Miller. 1995. Process geomorphology. Dubuque, IA: Wm C. Brown, p. 349.
  2. ^ Whittow, John (1984). Dictionary of Physical Geography. London: Penguin, 1984, p. 467. ISBN 0-14-051094-X.
  3. ^ Gornitz, Vivien (ed.). 2009. Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology And Ancient Environments. Springer: Dordrecht, p. 665.