Geologist Redefined Ancient Glacial Lake Nomenclature
A 2025 study updated century-old naming conventions for features left by the receding Laurentide ice sheet.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Geography
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In a 2025 paper, geologist David Franzi proposed a new nomenclature for ancient glacial lakes across New York, Vermont, and Canada. The research replaces naming conventions used for more than 100 years by incorporating insights from recent high-resolution mapping.
Why it matters
The previous naming standards were parochial and overlapping, failing to account for the scale of the landscape revealed by modern remote sensing. This updated framework integrates Indigenous perspectives to better honor the history of the post-glacial region.
Researchers utilized lidar data—a remote sensing method using light pulses to measure variable distances—to achieve a topographic resolution of one meter. This allowed for the identification of 20,000 distinct ancient beach features, providing unprecedented precision in tracking shoreline elevations.
The players
David Franzi
A geologist who retired from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2024 after a 40-year career spent mapping glacial history.
Brian Carl
A co-author of the 2025 study focusing on the structural reclassification of post-glacial landscapes.
Hadar Pepperstone
A researcher and co-author of the 2025 paper detailing revised glacial lake boundaries.
Darren Bonaparte
An Indigenous leader who provided consultation for the updated naming of geographical features.
Joanne Crawford
An Indigenous leader who consulted on the project to align the new nomenclature with regional cultural history.
The details
The study employed lidar data to map the physical remnants of proglacial lakes—bodies of water impounded by the ice sheet—that have been studied for over 125 years. By analyzing the elevation of 20,000 ancient beach features, the authors were able to correct historical errors in lake boundary definitions. The methodology also included formal consultations with Indigenous leaders to ensure the new nomenclature respects the cultural history of the peoples who populated the landscape after the Laurentide ice sheet receded from the Adirondacks more than 13,000 years ago.
Timeline
More than 13,000 years ago: The Laurentide ice sheet receded from the Adirondacks.
1900-2025: Geologists employed various, often overlapping lake naming conventions.
2024: David Franzi retired from SUNY Plattsburgh.
2025: Franzi and co-authors published their research in Quaternary Research.
The Tech Race
This work follows a pattern of updating legacy geological classifications through the application of high-resolution remote sensing. It specifically modernizes the standards maintained by the broader Quaternary research community.
The updated nomenclature will likely appear in future geological maps and academic textbooks, shifting how researchers identify and discuss regional landscape features. While the change primarily affects academic and cartographic workflows, it establishes a new standard for naming ancient sites.
The takeaway
The study demonstrates how modern lidar technology forces a re-evaluation of geological narratives established over the last century. Readers interested in the field should track the adoption of this nomenclature in future regional geological surveys and updated environmental records.
Further reading
For more on how modern surveying is changing our view of the earth, see Geography.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times Union.
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