Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/21/2013 - 14:35
Forums
Drumlin Formation in Iceland

Hey Mr. Esler,

If you were able to go through your experience again, what would you have done differently? Do you wish you could have sampled data over a longer period of time? Would that have made the data more accurate? Should there be frequent trips to the glacier in order to evaluate more trends and patterns? Is there any equipment that was needed but you guys didn't have? Also, why was the particular spot you were taking samples from chosen? Would it be a wise idea to take samples from another area on the glacier?

I hope your trip was amazing, I sure have enjoyed following you through the experience!

Christian Cousins, Lake City High School

Fri, 08/23/2013 - 07:12

Jamie Esler

Hi Christian,Thanks for such thoughtful questions. As the research team is heading
back to Mulajokull next summer for more field work, much of what you
have inquired about was discussed at great length in the last few days
by the team.
All in all, the team was not expecting the till to have so many larger
pebble and cobble sized pieces of sediment. The tills they have worked
with previously in their research throughout Wisconsin, Iowa, and
Illinois are all comprised of much smaller pieces of sediment (mainly
silt). Now, the researchers have all winter long to analyze the samples
and discuss if any modifications need to be made to field data
collection techniques to enhance accuracy. I am traveling to
UW-Milwaukee and ISU in early November to help the team run the AMS
samples through the device. Our class will Skype while I am there, so
you can connect with the scientsts at that point to get more details on
how they may plan to enhance the accuracy of data collection techniques
next summer. :)
Yes, the spot we took samples from was chosen for a particular reason:
a stream had cut through the drumlin, exposing the layers of till going
essentially all the way down to the bottom of the drumlin. This saved
us DAYS (literally) of digging. We also sampled the drumlin next to the
one with the stream cut, and the inter-drumlin in between them. This
will give the team a snapshot of the forces responsible for moving till
both into drumlins and in between drumlins.
It would be VERY wise for the team to take samples from another area on
the glacier (GREAT question!), and that is exactly what they intend to
do next summer. As we flew out on the helicopter, time was spent
looking down on the drumlin field and identifying the approximate GPS
coordinates/location on the maps of potential areas to sample next
summer. The more data that are in agreement from more drumlins in the
field, the stronger the claims the team can make about drumlin formation
hypotheses in general.
See you after Labor Day! I look forward to having you in class!
Mr. Esler