scholarly journals Ongoing margin migration of Ice Stream B, Antarctica

1999 ◽  
Vol 45 (150) ◽  
pp. 361-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Echelmeyer ◽  
W. D. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Characteristic Feature ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Southern Margin ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Ice Stream B ◽  
Inland Ice

AbstractThe rate of margin migration of an ice stream can be determined using repeat measurements of the surface velocity profile within the marginal shear zone. The method relies on the assumption that the velocity profile is a characteristic feature of the margin, and that this profile is shifted laterally as the margin migrates. Application of the method to Ice Stream B, Antarctica, indicates that the southern margin is moving outward into the inland ice at a rate of at least 9.7 ± 1.1 m a−1.

scholarly journals Ongoing margin migration of Ice Stream B, Antarctica

1999 ◽  
Vol 45 (150) ◽  
pp. 361-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Echelmeyer ◽  
W. D. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Characteristic Feature ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Southern Margin ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Ice Stream B ◽  
Inland Ice

AbstractThe rate of margin migration of an ice stream can be determined using repeat measurements of the surface velocity profile within the marginal shear zone. The method relies on the assumption that the velocity profile is a characteristic feature of the margin, and that this profile is shifted laterally as the margin migrates. Application of the method to Ice Stream B, Antarctica, indicates that the southern margin is moving outward into the inland ice at a rate of at least 9.7 ± 1.1 m a−1.

scholarly journals Delineation of a catchment boundary using velocity and elevation measurements

1998 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 140-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. F. Price ◽  
I. M. Whillans
Keyword(s):  
Field Measurements ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Data Sampling ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Elevation Data ◽  
Boundary Location ◽  
Ice Stream B

The determination of catchment boundaries is a major source of uncertainty in net balance studies on large ice sheets. Here, a method for defining a catchment boundary is developed using new measurements of ice-surface velocity and elevation near the Ice Stream B/C boundary in West Antarctica. An objective method for estimating confidence in the catchment boundary is proposed. Using elevation data, the resulting mean standard deviation in boundary location is 13 km in position or 6000 km2 in area. Applying a similar uncertainty to both sides of the Ice Stream Β catchment results in a catchment-area uncertainty of 9%. Much larger uncertainties arise when the method is applied to velocity data. The uncertainty in both cases is primarily determined by the density of field measurements and is proportionally similar for larger catchment basins. Differences in the position of the velocity-determined boundary and the elevation-determined boundary probably result from data sampling. The boundary positions determined here do not support the hypothesis that Ice Stream Β captured parts of the Ice Stream C catchment.

scholarly journals Are longitudinal ice-surface structures on the Antarctic Ice Sheet indicators of long-term ice-flow configuration?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 911-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. Glasser ◽  
S. J. A. Jennings ◽  
M. J. Hambrey ◽  
B. Hubbard
Keyword(s):  
Flow Line ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Structures ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Continent-wide mapping of longitudinal ice-surface structures on the Antarctic Ice Sheet reveals that they originate in the interior of the ice sheet and are arranged in arborescent networks fed by multiple tributaries. Longitudinal ice-surface structures can be traced continuously down-ice for distances of up to 1200 km. They are co-located with fast-flowing glaciers and ice streams that are dominated by basal sliding rates above tens of m yr-1 and are strongly guided by subglacial topography. Longitudinal ice-surface structures dominate regions of converging flow, where ice flow is subject to non-coaxial strain and simple shear. Associating these structures with the AIS' surface velocity field reveals (i) ice residence times of ~ 2500 to 18 500 years, and (ii) undeformed flow-line sets for all major flow units analysed except the Kamb Ice Stream and the Institute and Möller Ice Stream areas. Although it is unclear how long it takes for these features to form and decay, we infer that the major ice-flow and ice-velocity configuration of the ice sheet may have remained largely unchanged for several thousand years, and possibly even since the end of the last glacial cycle. This conclusion has implications for our understanding of the long-term landscape evolution of Antarctica, including large-scale patterns of glacial erosion and deposition.

scholarly journals Constraints on glacier flow from temperature-depth profiles in the ice. Application to EPICA Dome C.

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Hermoso de Mendoza ◽  
Jean-Claude Mareschal ◽  
Hugo Beltrami
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Velocity Profile ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Temperature Profile ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Function Parameter ◽  
Unknown Parameters ◽  
Conduction Model ◽  
Ice Flow

Abstract. A one-dimensional (1-D) ice flow and heat conduction model is used to calculate the temperature and heat flux profiles in the ice and to constrain the parameters characterizing the ice flow and the thermal boundary conditions at the Dome C drilling site in East Antarctica. We use the reconstructions of ice accumulation, glacier height and air surface temperature histories as boundary conditions to calculate the ice temperature profile. The temperature profile also depends on a set of poorly known parameters, the ice velocity profile and magnitude, basal heat flux, and air-ice surfaces temperature coupling. We use Monte Carlo methods to search the parameters' space of the model, compare the model output with the temperature data, and find probability distributions for the unknown parameters. We could not determine the sliding ratio because it has no effect on the thermal profile, but we could constrain the flux function parameter p that determines the velocity profile. We determined the basal heat flux qb = 49.0  ± 2.7 (2σ)m W m−2, almost equal to the apparent value. We found an ice surface velocity of vsur = 2.6 ± 1.9 (2σ)m y−1 and an air-ice temperature coupling of 0.8 ± 1.0(2σ)K. Our study confirms that the heat flux is low and does not destabilize the ice sheet in east Antarctica.

scholarly journals The Nordre Strømfjord shear zone and the Arfersiorfik quartz diorite in Arfersiorfik, the Nagssugtoqidian orogen, West Greenland

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 145-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Sørensen ◽  
John A. Korstgård ◽  
William E. Glassley ◽  
Bo Møller Stensgaard
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Quartz Diorite ◽  
Ductile Deformation ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
South West ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Inland Ice ◽  
Zone Deformation

The Nordre Strømfjord shear zone in the fjord Arfersiorfik, central West Greenland, consists of alternating panels of supracrustal rocks and orthogneisses which together form a vertical zone up to 7 km wide with sinistral transcurrent, ductile deformation, which occurred under middle amphibolite facies conditions. The pelitic and metavolcanic schists and paragneisses are all highly deformed, while the orthogneisses appear more variably deformed, with increasing deformation evident towards the supracrustal units. The c. 1.92 Ga Arfersiorfik quartz diorite is traceable for a distance of at least 35 km from the Inland Ice towards the west-south-west. Towards its northern contact with an intensely deformed schist unit it shows a similar pattern of increasing strain, which is accompanied by chemical and mineralogical changes. The metasomatic changes associated with the shear zone deformation are superimposed on a wide range of original chemical compositions, which reflect magmatic olivine and/ or pyroxene as well as hornblende fractionation trends. The chemistry of the Arfersiorfik quartz diorite suite as a whole is comparable to that of Phanerozoic plutonic and volcanic rocks of calc-alkaline affinity.

scholarly journals Jakobshavns Isbræ, West Greenland: Seasonal Variations in Velocity - or Lack Thereof

1990 ◽  
Vol 36 (122) ◽  
pp. 82-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Echelmeyer ◽  
William D. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
Supraglacial Lakes ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Significant Seasonal Variation ◽  
Melt Water ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Seasonal Basis ◽  
Made In

AbstractThe lower 80 km of the fast-moving Jakobshavns Isbræ, West Greenland, is subject to significant melting during the summer season. The melt water drains into large supraglacial rivers which pour into moulins or feed into beautiful supraglacial lakes, some of which are observed to drain periodically. Except for a few streams that drain directly off the margins of the ice sheet within the drainage basin of this glacier, the fate of this melt water is unknown. However, a localized upwelling of highly turbid water is often observed during the melt season in the fjord adjacent Io the terminal cliff of the glacier, indicating that water from some source does move along the glacier bed.As part of an investigation on the mechanisms of rapid flow on Jakobshavns Isbræ, measurements of surface velocity at several (∼25) locations along the ice stream at and below the equilibrium line were made in order to investigate the effects of this seasonally varying input of melt water on the speed of the glacier.No significant seasonal variation in speed was found at any location. This indicates that, unlike many other sub-polar and temperate glaciers, surface melt-water production does not affect the motion of this glacier on a seasonal basis, and, thus, does not cause a significant temporal variation in basal sliding. This finding has important ramifications on the mechanisms of flow for this ice stream.

scholarly journals Surface Features of Ice Stream B, Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 168-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.L. Vornberger ◽  
I.M. Whillans
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Ice Streams ◽  
Longitudinal Compression ◽  
West Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Features ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Ice Stream B

Aerial photographs have been obtained of Ice Stream B, one of the active ice streams draining the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. A sketch map made from these photographs shows two tributaries. The margin of the active ice is marked by curved crevasses and intense crevassing occurs just inward of them. Transverse crevasses dominate the center of the ice streams and diagonal types appear at the lower end. A “suture zone” originates at the tributary convergence and longitudinal surface ridges occur at the downglacier end. The causes of these surface features are discussed and the relative importance of four stresses in resisting the driving stress is assessed. We conclude that basal drag may be important, longitudinal compression is probably important at the lower end, and longitudinal tension is probably most important near the head of the ice stream. Side drag leads to shearing at the margins, but does not restrain much of the ice stream.

scholarly journals Velocity pattern in a transect across Ice Stream B, Antarctica

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (133) ◽  
pp. 562-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. M. Whillans ◽  
M. Jackson ◽  
Y-H. Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Lateral Shear ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Measured Velocity ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Spreading Ridges ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Surface Slopes ◽  
Fast Ice ◽  
Ice Stream B

AbstractRepeat aerial photography is used to obtain closely spaced measurements of velocity and elevation over a complete transect of Ice Stream tributary B2, including the shear margins, the fast ice of the ice stream and several unusual features, as well as the UpB camp. Persistent features, mainly crevasses, are tracked to provide 1541 values of velocity and 1933 values of elevation. These are used to describe ice flow in the ice stream. Within the ice stream, the dominant velocity gradient is lateral shear. Crevasse patterns are studied in relation to measured velocity gradients. Crevasses intersect one another at acute angles, indicating that their origin is deeper than the depth to which crevasses penetrate. One feature within the ice stream seems to be a raft of stiff ice. Others are crevasse trains. Also, there are spreading ridges, perhaps due to upwelling ice. There is no evidence of large sticky spots within the studied transect, i.e. no steep surface slopes with associated surface stretching just up-glacier and surface compression down-glacier.

scholarly journals Interpretation of radar-detected internal layer folding in West Antarctic ice streams

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (133) ◽  
pp. 528-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Jacobel Robert ◽  
M. Gades Anthony ◽  
L. Gottschling David ◽  
M. Hodge Steven ◽  
L. Wright David
Keyword(s):  
Flow Direction ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Internal Layers ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Ice Streams ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
High Resolution Images ◽  
Basal Shear ◽  
Inland Ice

AbstractLow-frequency surface-based radar-profiling experiments on Ice Streams Β and C, West Antarctica, have yielded high-resolution images which depict folding of the internal layers that can aid in the interpretation of ice-stream dynamics. Unlike folding seen in most earlier radar studies of ice sheets, the present structures have no relationship to bedrock topography and show tilting of their axial fold planes in the flow direction. Rather than being standing waves created by topography or local variations in basal shear stress, the data show that these folds originate upstream of the region of streaming flow and are advected into the ice streams. The mechanism for producing folds is hypothesized to be changes in the basal boundary conditions as the ice makes the transition from inland ice to ice-stream flow. Migration of this transition zone headward can then cause folds in the internal layering to be propagated down the ice streams.

scholarly journals Radar reflections reveal a wet bed beneath stagnant Ice Stream C and a frozen bed beneath ridge BC, West Antarctica

1998 ◽  
Vol 44 (146) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Bentley ◽  
N. Lord ◽  
C. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Radar Data ◽  
Ice Thickness ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Ice Streams ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Crossover Analysis ◽  
Automated Processing ◽  
Basal Reflection ◽  
Field Season ◽  
Ice Stream B

AbstractDigital airborne radar data were collected during the 1987-88 Antarctic field season in nine gridded blocks covering the downstream portions of Ice Stream B (6km spacing) and Ice Stream C (11 km spacing), together with a portion of ridge BC between them. An automated processing procedure was used for picking onset times of the reflected radar pulses, converting travel times to distances, interpolating missing data, converting pressure transducer readings, correcting navigational drift, performing crossover analysis, and zeroing rémanent crossover errors. Interpolation between flight-lines was carried out using the minimum curvature method.Maps of ice thickness (estimated accuracy 20 m) and basal-reflection strength (estimated accuracy 1 dB) were produced. The ice-thickness map confirms the characteristics of previous reconnaissance maps and reveals no new features. The reflection-strength map shows pronounced contrasts between the ice streams and ridge BC and between the two ice streams themselves. We interpret the reflection strengths to mean that the bed of Ice Stream C, as well as that of Ice Stream B, is unfrozen, that the bed of ridge BC is frozen and that the boundary between the frozen bed of ridge BC and the unfrozen bed of Ice Stream C lies precisely below the former shear margin of the ice stream.

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