1980 Volume 41 Issue Special Pages 9-17
The surface morphology of the ablation area of the Khumbu Glacier in east Nepal was surveyed and the details were mapped. The ablation area includes a bare ice area as well as a debris-covered area. Of the complex surface morphologies, large debris-covered cones, large hollows, and irregular uneven surfaces can be identified. The irregular uneven surfaces are subdivided into eleven morphological units according to the morphological elements such as relative relief, directional features of ridges, and distribution of ice cliffs, lakes, and streams. The surface morphology change both in transverse and in longitudinal direction of the glacier.
The distribution of 5 morphological elements, relative relief, directional feature of ridges, exposure of glacier ice including ice cliffs, lakes, and streams are shown. According to combine these morphological elements, a morphological classification is obtained. The large debris-covered cones, large hollows, and irregular uneven surface can be classified. The surface morphology change both in the transverse and longitudinal direction on the glacier. The summary of the longitudinal change of the morphology and the units is;
(i) The wide bare ice area in the upper section of the ablation area between 7 km and 10 km from the terminus is a row-relief gentle morphology with the micro unevenness such as ice pinnacles (Units 10, 11, 3, 7).
(ii) In the section between 7 km and 4.5 km from the terminus, the relative relief increases and streams with high ice cliffs are found (Units 3, 7, 5).
(iii) In the section 4.5 km to 2 km upglacier from the terminus which includes the 2nd area, the relief attains the maximum and the morphology becomes very complicated. Many ice cliffs, lakes, and streams are located (Units 6, 8, 9).
(iv) The terminal 2 km shows the relatively moderate relief with thick debris-mantle (Units 5, 4, 2, 1).
