An experience in morphometric analysis of glacial landforms differing in age (with special reference to Byelorussia)

Abstract

Morphometric indices calculated on the basis of cartographic materials and geodetic profiling data processing proved to be essentially different within marginal zones of the Valdai, Moscow and Dnieper glaciations, this allows to estimate relative age of glacial relief as well as to make a guess at trends of the relief re-modelling. Slope processes acting universally tend to planate topography and to destroy small landforms. Another factor of great importance is linear erosion which acts locally and results in dissecting the surface and finally in elimination of all relict glacial landforms. To delimit marginal zones of heterochronous ice sheets these indices should be used which reveal a tendency towards flattening such as: «rhythm of topography» index, number of small closed contours, slope angles, contourlines length, index of planation. The values of the indices change regularly as one passes from younger to older glacial topography.