Dr Iestyn Barr
Temporary Lecturer in Physical Geography

Location: Geography Building Room 223
email: i.barr@qmul.ac.uk
Phone: 020 7882 8438

Research interests:

My research interests lie in the application of remote sensing and GIS methods within the fields of glaciology and Quaternary environmental change, with particular focus upon the dimensions, dynamics and distribution of both modern- and palaeo-glaciers.

To date, my research has largely focused upon the glacial history of NE Siberia and Kamchatka, investigating interactions between former glaciers, regional geomorphology and palaeoclimate


Fig. 1. Moraines (in black) and drumlins (in red) upon the Anadyr Lowland (Far NE Russia).

 

1. The glacial geomorphology of Far Eastern Siberia

In terms of its glacial history, Far NE Russia is one of the least understood regions on Earth – and this has limited our ability to accurately model the region’s climate over the past glacial-interglacial cycle. In order to address this uncertainty, I have reconstructed the former dimensions and dynamics of glaciers across this region by mapping glacial landforms (moraines, drumlins, eskers, meltwater channels) from satellite images and digital elevation model data (see example in fig 1). This research has demonstrated that moraines cluster in and around the region’s uplands, providing evidence that, during the Late Quaternary, glaciers in the region were mountain-centred and small (when compared to the vast continental ice sheets that once occupied North America and Europe). There is also evidence to suggest that Siberian glaciers were at their most extensive prior to the global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (c.21 ka) – indicating that former glacial advance in the northern hemisphere was regionally asynchronous (i.e. when European glaciers were big, those in Siberia were small; and vice-versa). In effect, the growth of glaciers in North America and Europe starved Siberia of moisture, preventing the development of large continental ice sheets.  

 


Fig 2. (A) Reconstruction of the Sredinny Ice Field (on the Kamchatka Peninsula) during the LGM. Also shown is a third-order polynomial trend surface, contoured at 100m intervals, depicting ELA across the mountains during the LGM. (B) Topographic profile, from ‘i’ to ‘ii’, along the Sredinny Mountains (following the dashed line), showing the land surface topography, the LGM ELA trend surface, and a trend surface depicting modern snowline altitudes.

 

2. Former glacier-climate interactions upon the Kamchatka peninsula

Reconstructing former glaciers allow us not only to understand their dimensions and dynamics (e.g. their flow patterns or thermal properties), but also allows us to make estimates of climatic conditions during former periods of glaciation.  To this end, and in conjunction with researchers in the UK and Russia, I have used a combined geomorphological – physical model approach to generate three-dimensional reconstructions of glaciers upon the Kamchatka Peninsula during the LGM (see fig 2). From these reconstructions, a degree-day melt model was then used to reconstruct former climatic conditions. These data indicate that the area was both colder and more arid than present during the LGM, and reduced ablation allowed significant glaciers to develop.    

The Kamchatka Peninsula is of particular interest because it is currently the largest glacierised area in NE Asia, and is occupied by numerous active and extinct volcanoes. The way in which these volcanoes might have impacted upon past glaciers is currently unclear (perhaps causing them do advance, or retreat). To address some of this uncertainty, I am currently looking at the onshore and offshore record of glaciation, to try and reconstruct the extent and dynamics of former Kamchatkan glaciers, and establish if they once discharged vast icebergs into the North Pacific (perhaps triggered by, or triggering, volcanic activity).

Publications:

Selected Recent Publications:

  • Barr, I.D. and Clark, C.D. (2011) Glaciers and climate in Pacific Far NE Russia during the Last Glacial Maximum. Journal of Quaternary Science, 26 (2), 227-237. doi: 10.1002/jqs.1450
  • Ng, F., Barr, I.D. and Clark, C.D. (2010) Using the surface profiles of modern ice masses to inform palaeo-glacier reconstructions. Quaternary Science Reviews, 29 (23–24), 3240–3255. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.06.045
  • Barr, I.D. and Clark, C.D. (2009) Distribution and pattern of moraines in Far NE Russia reveal former glacial extent. Journal of Maps, v2009, 186-193. doi:10.4113/jom.2009.1108