Paraglacial and postglacial debris flows on a Little Ice Age terminal moraine: Jamapa Glacier, Pico de Orizaba (Mexico)

The study area is located on the northern face of Pico de Orizaba (Mexico, 5700 m ASL), on the terminal moraine of Jamapa Glacier, which dates from the Little Ice Age. Large debris flows are recurrent on the proglacial ramp. The comparison of lichen colonies growing on the deposits of the flows reveals that two generations of flows are present: an old one and a very recent one that occurred between 1994 and 1995. Studies were made of the sedimentologic characteristics of the flows and ground temperatures were recorded to a depth of 70 cm on the floor of the channels. Comparison of the lichen-growth on the exposed surfaces of the deposits led to the relative dating of the older debris flow, which is associated with the beginning of the retreat of the glacier and the saturation of the terminal moraine deposits by meltwater. The more recent flow has less transport capacity and is identified with the formation of an impermeable layer of permafrost that covers the bottom of the channel of the old debris flow. The permafrost layer formed when snow accumulations on the bottom of the channel were covered by ash that fell from the slopes.