Dr Lorna Linch
Visiting Research Fellow and Teaching Assistant
Location: Room 202, Geography Buildingemail: l.d.linch@qmul.ac.uk
Phone: (+44) (0)7533 946 738
Research Interests:
Fig.1. Salient features of a typical continental shelf scour mark (modified from Woodworth-Lynas and Dowdeswell, 1994).
My research interests are in sedimentology and geomorphology; deformation of sediment (particularly glacial); Micromorphology; and Quaternary Environments. Examination of these fields is critical to the reconstruction of palaeoenvironments, which will allow better understanding of present and future environmental change including glacial dynamics.
My PhD research ‘Micromorphology of Iceberg Scour’ (NERC funded) focused on the macroscale and microscale deformation of iceberg scoured sediments. Icebergs plough through unconsolidated lake/sea sediments gouging out kilometre long grooves, hundreds of metres wide and tens of metres deep (Fig. 1). Although the surface morphology of iceberg scours is well documented, little is known about what scours look like in stratigraphic section, particularly where surface characteristics are absent (e.g. through deterioration or burial).
This research establishes a definitive set of diagnostic criteria for identifying iceberg scours in the Quaternary and pre-Quaternary rock record by macroscopically and microscopically (2D thin sections and Metripol Birefringence Imaging) examining sediment deformation below iceberg scours from 1) former Glacial Lake Agassiz (Manitoba, Canada) (Figs. 2 and 3); 2) Scarborough Bluffs (ancestral Lake Ontario, Canada); 3) the North Sea (Witch Ground Basin); and 4) Antarctica (Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas). These specific sites ensured that sub-scour structure was examined and identified in both fine-grained, clay-rich sediment as well as in diamicton. In addition, suspected seasonal/perennial ice scoured lacustrine sediment was macroscopically and microscopically examined from Sweden (thin sections already in the Centre for Micromorphology, QMUL), which compares well to iceberg scoured sediment. Finally, a new method in micromorphology called ‘Metripol Birefringence Imaging’ was pioneered as part of this research as a valuable and innovative micromorphological tool in terms of identifying and quantifying (unistrial) plasmic fabric in unconsolidated sediment.
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| Fig.2. Aerial photograph of the area formerly occupied by Glacial Lake Agassiz near the town of Lorette, southeast Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Light grey tracks are iceberg scours. Source: Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada, 1988. | Fig. 3. Pit excavation through an iceberg scour in former Glacial Lake Agassiz in order to carry out micromorphological sampling. Backhoe bucket is c. 1.65 m in horizontal length.
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All research from this project will be particularly valuable for correctly reconstructing palaeoenvironmental information e.g. calving glacial margins, wind direction, extent of subglacial environment etc. and predicting future glacial dynamics. In addition, it may eventually aid structural engineering on Arctic shelves, which could be of great value to oil and gas companies given the anticipated increase in number, size and frequency of icebergs within areas of petroleum exploration and extraction as a result of climate change. The findings of this research are being prepared for publication in collaboration with Profs. Jaap van der Meer and John Menzies.
References:
Woodworth-Lynas, C. M. T. and Dowdeswell, J.A. (1994). Soft-sediment striated surfaces and massive diamicton facies produced by floating ice. In: Earth’s Glacial Record, eds. M. Deynoux, J. M. G. Miller, E. W. Domack. N. Eyles, I. J. Fairchild & G. M. Young, pp. 241–259. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Journal Articles
Linch, L. D., van der Meer, J. J. M. and Menzies, J. (In prep) Micromorphology of Iceberg Scour in fine-grained clays: Glacial Lake Agassiz, Manitoba, Canada.
Linch, L. D. and van der Meer, J. J. M. (In prep) Micromorphology of Ice Keel Scour in Glaciolacustrine Sediments: Scarborough Bluffs, Ontario, Canada.
Linch, L. D., van der Meer, J. J. M., Hillenbrand, C-D., Smith, J. A., Graham, A. G. C., and Larter, R. D. (In prep) Micromorphological characterisation of iceberg scours in West Antarctic palaeo-ice stream troughs: Implications for reconstructions of LGM ice-sheet extent.
Linch, L. D., van der Meer, J. J. M. and Graham, A. G. C. (In prep) Micromorphological characterisation of iceberg scours in the Witch Ground Basin, North Sea.
Linch, L. D. (In prep). Micromorphology of Ice Keel scour: A Discussion.
Linch, L. D. (In prep) Ice Keel Scour: A Review.
Linch, L. D. and van der Meer, J. J. M. (In prep) Metripol Birefringence Imaging of Glaciotectonised and Ice Keel Scoured Sediment.
Reports (non-peer reviewed)
Linch, L. D. 2010: Micromorphology of Iceberg Scour Marks: Clay Mineralogy Analysis. Quaternary Newsletter, vol. 121, pp. 48-51.
Linch, L. D. 2009: The Micromorphology of Iceberg Scour Marks. International Association of Sedimentologists Postgraduate Award (non-peer reviewed) http://www.iasnet.org/members/grantreports/lorna_linch.pdf
Linch, L. D. 2009: The University Centre in Svalbard, Course AG-322: Arctic Marine and Terrestrial Quaternary Stratigraphy. Geopherma, vol.105, pp.16-18.
Lane, C. and Linch, L. D. 2009: The QRA PG 7th International Symposium. Quaternary Newsletter, vol. 118, pp. 11-14.
Linch, L. D. 2008: A Micromorphological Investigation of Deformation Structures beneath Iceberg Scours. Quaternary Newsletter, vol. 114, pp. 45.
Conferences
International Glaciological Society, British Branch Meeting
Linch, L. D. ‘Micromorphology of Ice Keel Scour’ (oral presentation). British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, 2011.
2011 Ice Scour Workshop
Linch, L. D. ‘Micromorphology of Ice Keel Scour’ (oral presentation). ConocoPhillips, Calgary, Alberta, 2011.
The International Micromorphology Symposium
Linch, L. D. and van der Meer, J. J. M. ‘Metripol Birefringence Analysis: Unconsolidated glaciotectonised and iceberg scoured sediments with emphasis on identification of unistrial plasmic fabric’ (oral presentation). Queen Mary University of London, 2011.
Tarplee, M. F. V., van der Meer, J. J. M. and Linch, L. D. ‘The three-dimensional microscopic ‘signature’ of strain within subglacial sediments – initial results’ (poster). Royal Holloway University of London, 2010.
Linch, L. D. ‘The Micromorphology of Iceberg Scour: Preliminary Results’ (oral presentation). Queen Mary University of London, 2009.
European Geosciences Union General Assembly
Linch, L. D., van der Meer, J. J. M., Carr, S. J. and Menzies, J. ‘A micromorphological investigation of iceberg scoured sediment’ (poster). Vienna, 2009.
Tarplee, M. F. V., van der Meer, J. J. M., Davies, R. D. and Linch, L. D. ‘The three-dimensional microscopic ‘signature’ of strain within subglacial sediments – initial results’ (poster). Vienna, 2009.
Quaternary Research Association
Linch, L. D. ‘The Micromorphology of Iceberg Scour, Glacial Lake Agassiz’ (oral presentation). Postgraduate Symposium, University of Manchester, 2009.
Linch, L. D. ‘The Micromorphology of Iceberg Scoured Sediment’ (oral presentation). Postgraduate Symposium, University of Copenhagen, 2007.
Funding
2011
Conference Award £1000 Canadian Seabed Research, awarded to contribute to the costs of attending, and presenting at, the 2011 Ice Scour Workshop, Calgary, Canada.
Independent Scholars Award for Canadian Studies in the UK £750 Foundation for Canadian Studies in the UK, awarded to contribute to the costs of attending, and presenting at, the 2011 Ice Scour Workshop, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Quaternary Conference Award £300 Quaternary Research Association (QRA), awarded to contribute to the costs of attending, and presenting at, the 2011 Ice Scour Workshop, Calgary, Canada.
2006–2010
3.5-year Studentship Natural Environment Research Council (inc. £7672 fieldwork expenses), awarded for PhD research.
2009
Postgraduate Research Award £150 Queen Mary University of London, awarded to contribute to the costs of attending and presenting at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna.
2008
New Researchers award £350, Quaternary Research Association (QRA), awarded for the costs of clay mineralogical analysis necessary for PhD research.
Postgraduate Award £250, British Society of Geomorphology (BSG), awarded to contribute to the costs of attending the Arctic Marine and Terrestrial Stratigraphy course at the University Centre in Svalbard.
Postgraduate Canadian Studies Travel Award £750 Foundation for Canadian studies in the UK, awarded to contribute to costs of fieldwork in Canada necessary for PhD research.
Postgraduate Award €1000 International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS), awarded to contribute to costs of fieldwork in Canada necessary for PhD research.