Bødalsbreen is an outlet glacier of the Jostedalsbreen Ice Field in
western Norway. Nine moraine ridges formed during and after the maximum
extent of the Little Ice Age (LIA). The stratigraphy of proglacial
sediments in the Bødalen basin inside the LIA moraines is examined,
and corresponding sediment volumes are calculated based on georadar
surveys and seismic profiling. The total erosion rates (etot) by
the glacier are determined for the periods AD 1650?1930 and AD 1930?2005
as 0.8 ± 0.4 mm/yr and 0.7 ± 0.3 mm/yr, respectively. These rates
are based on the total amount of sediment delivered to the glacier
margin. The values are almost one order of magnitude higher than
total erosion rates previously calculated for Norwegian glaciers.
This is explained by the large amount of pre-existing sediment that
was recycled by Bødalsbreen. Thus, the total erosion rate must be
considered as a composite of eroded bedrock and of removed pre-existing
sediments. The total erosion rate is likely to vary with time owing
to a decreasing volume of easily erodible, unconsolidated sediment
and till under the glacier. A slight increase in the subglacial bedrock
erosion is expected owing to the gradually increasing bedrock surface
area exposed to subglacial erosion.