Glacial geomorphology of the central sector of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, northern British Columbia, Canada

Northern British Columbia was repeatedly covered by the Cordilleran Ice Sheet (CIS) during glacial periods of the Quaternary. However, its mountainous terrain and remote location have thus far impeded our understanding of this central sector of the ice sheet. The improved resolution and coverage of remotely sensed data provides new opportunities to unravel the glacial history of this inaccessible location. Here we present a comprehensive map of glacial landforms for the central sector of the CIS (between 55 and 60˚N). Seven landform categories were mapped: ice flow parallel lineations, moraines (CIS outlet glacier moraines, Late Glacial moraines and moraines of unknown origin), meltwater channels (lateral and submarginal, subglacial, proglacial, and meltwater channels of unknown origin), kame terraces, eskers (single ridges and esker complexes), perched deltas and subglacial ribs. Collectively, these landforms provide a record of the extent, thickness and behaviour of the former ice mass, the direction of its movement, and nature and pattern of ice retreat. Therefore, this glacial landform map provides a basis for future reconstructions of the glacial dynamics and chronology of the CIS.