scholarly journals The Importance of Pressurized Subglacial Water in Separation and Sliding at the Glacier Bed

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (101) ◽  
pp. 3-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bindschadler
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
High Water ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Separation Index ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Bed Separation ◽  
Ice Stream B

Abstract The effect of pressurized subglacial water on the sliding process is examined by a parameter called the “bed separation index”. This index indicates the relative extent of cavity formation by combining the effects of variation of bed-normal stress across undulations (Kamb, 1970) and steady-state water pressure in a Röthlisberger conduit at the glacier bed. Data from three glaciers of widely varying size are used to test the correlation of the bed separation index with inferred sliding rates. For Columbia Glacier and Ice Stream B in West Antarctica it is shown that high water pressure enhances sliding. More complete data from the third test case. Variegated Glacier, are used to compare a number of possible formulations of a “sliding law”. A Weertman-type power law (exponent c. 3), modified for the effect of subglacial water pressure, appears to be most preferable. Other formulations, including the “lubrication factor” hypothesis used by Budd (1975) are tentatively rejected. Consideration of the temporal variations of the “bed separation index” indicate that, on short time scales of days and weeks, variations of water pressure can dominate the sliding process. A rapid order-of-magnitude increase in water discharge causes a hundredfold transient increase in the water pressure. A bi-modal hydraulic regime is revealed for water flow transverse to the direction of main ice flow. This behavior is in accord with the observation of a sudden acceleration of the ice due to increased sliding in early summer or following heavy rainstorms.

scholarly journals The Importance of Pressurized Subglacial Water in Separation and Sliding at the Glacier Bed

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (101) ◽  
pp. 3-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bindschadler
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
High Water ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Separation Index ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Bed Separation ◽  
Ice Stream B

AbstractThe effect of pressurized subglacial water on the sliding process is examined by a parameter called the “bed separation index”. This index indicates the relative extent of cavity formation by combining the effects of variation of bed-normal stress across undulations (Kamb, 1970) and steady-state water pressure in a Röthlisberger conduit at the glacier bed. Data from three glaciers of widely varying size are used to test the correlation of the bed separation index with inferred sliding rates. For Columbia Glacier and Ice Stream B in West Antarctica it is shown that high water pressure enhances sliding. More complete data from the third test case. Variegated Glacier, are used to compare a number of possible formulations of a “sliding law”. A Weertman-type power law (exponent c. 3), modified for the effect of subglacial water pressure, appears to be most preferable. Other formulations, including the “lubrication factor” hypothesis used by Budd (1975) are tentatively rejected. Consideration of the temporal variations of the “bed separation index” indicate that, on short time scales of days and weeks, variations of water pressure can dominate the sliding process. A rapid order-of-magnitude increase in water discharge causes a hundredfold transient increase in the water pressure. A bi-modal hydraulic regime is revealed for water flow transverse to the direction of main ice flow. This behavior is in accord with the observation of a sudden acceleration of the ice due to increased sliding in early summer or following heavy rainstorms.

scholarly journals The Importance of Pressurized Subglacial Water in Separation and Sliding at the Glacier Bed (Abstract only)

1982 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 349-349
Author(s):  
Robert Bindschadler
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Short Time Scale ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Separation Index ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Bed Separation ◽  
Ice Stream B ◽  
Basal Shear

The effect of pressurized sub-glacial water on the sliding process is quantified by calculating a “bed separation index”. The water pressure distribution i s calculated assuming the existence of a Rothlisberger channel at the bed. Kamb's formulation is used to describe the variation of normal stress over periodic bed undulations. The hypothesis is that as either basal shear stress or water pressure is increased the extent of ice-bedrock separation (on the down-glacier side of undulations) increases and enhanced sliding occursData from three glaciers of widely varying size are used to test this hypothesis. For Columbia Glacier and “Ice Stream B” the importance of including the effects of water pressure in any “sliding law” are pronounced. More complete data from the third test case, Variegated Glacier, are used to compare a number of possible formulations of sliding law which encompass the above hypothesis. A modified Weertmantype law appears to be most preferable while while some possibilities, including Budd's lubrication factor hypothesis, are tentatively rejected.Consideration of the temporal variations of the “bed separation index” reemphasize that, especially in the short time scale, variations of water pressure can dominate the sliding process. An order of magnitude increase in water discharge causes a hundred fold transient increase in the water pressure.This paper has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Glaciology

scholarly journals The Importance of Pressurized Subglacial Water in Separation and Sliding at the Glacier Bed (Abstract only)

1982 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bindschadler
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Short Time Scale ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Separation Index ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Bed Separation ◽  
Ice Stream B ◽  
Basal Shear

The effect of pressurized sub-glacial water on the sliding process is quantified by calculating a “bed separation index”. The water pressure distribution i s calculated assuming the existence of a Rothlisberger channel at the bed. Kamb's formulation is used to describe the variation of normal stress over periodic bed undulations. The hypothesis is that as either basal shear stress or water pressure is increased the extent of ice-bedrock separation (on the down-glacier side of undulations) increases and enhanced sliding occurs Data from three glaciers of widely varying size are used to test this hypothesis. For Columbia Glacier and “Ice Stream B” the importance of including the effects of water pressure in any “sliding law” are pronounced. More complete data from the third test case, Variegated Glacier, are used to compare a number of possible formulations of sliding law which encompass the above hypothesis. A modified Weertmantype law appears to be most preferable while while some possibilities, including Budd's lubrication factor hypothesis, are tentatively rejected. Consideration of the temporal variations of the “bed separation index” reemphasize that, especially in the short time scale, variations of water pressure can dominate the sliding process. An order of magnitude increase in water discharge causes a hundred fold transient increase in the water pressure. This paper has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Glaciology

scholarly journals The Uplift of Unteraargletscher at the Beginning of the Melt Season—A Consequence of Water Storage at the Bed?

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (101) ◽  
pp. 28-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Iken ◽  
H. Röthlisberger ◽  
A. Flotron ◽  
W. Haeberli
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
High Water ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Upward Movement ◽  
Drainage Channels ◽  
Summer Maximum ◽  
Cavity Development ◽  
The Times

Abstract Results of systematic movement studies carried out by means of an automatic camera on Unteraargletscher since 1969 are discussed together with supplementary theodolite measurements made at shorter intervals and over a longer section of the glacier. In addition to the typical spring/early summer maximum of velocity known from other glaciers, an upward movement of up to 0.6 m has been recorded at the beginning of the melt season. It was followed, after a few fluctuations of the vertical velocity, by an equal but slower downward movement which continued at an almost constant rate for about three months. Possible explanations of the uplift are discussed, the most satisfactory explanation being water storage at the bed. The observations then suggest that this storage system is efficiently connected with the main subglacial drainage channels only during times of very high water pressure in the channels. Detailed measurements showed that the times of maximum horizontal velocity coincided with the times of maximum upward velocity rather than with the times when the elevation of the surveyed poles had reached a maximum. On the basis of the hypothesis of water storage at the bed this finding means that the sliding velocity is influenced mainly by the subglacial water pressure and the actual, transient stage of cavity development, while the amount of stored water is of lesser influence.

scholarly journals The Uplift of Unteraargletscher at the Beginning of the Melt Season—A Consequence of Water Storage at the Bed?

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (101) ◽  
pp. 28-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Iken ◽  
H. Röthlisberger ◽  
A. Flotron ◽  
W. Haeberli
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
High Water ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Upward Movement ◽  
Drainage Channels ◽  
Summer Maximum ◽  
Cavity Development ◽  
The Times

AbstractResults of systematic movement studies carried out by means of an automatic camera on Unteraargletscher since 1969 are discussed together with supplementary theodolite measurements made at shorter intervals and over a longer section of the glacier. In addition to the typical spring/early summer maximum of velocity known from other glaciers, an upward movement of up to 0.6 m has been recorded at the beginning of the melt season. It was followed, after a few fluctuations of the vertical velocity, by an equal but slower downward movement which continued at an almost constant rate for about three months. Possible explanations of the uplift are discussed, the most satisfactory explanation being water storage at the bed. The observations then suggest that this storage system is efficiently connected with the main subglacial drainage channels only during times of very high water pressure in the channels. Detailed measurements showed that the times of maximum horizontal velocity coincided with the times of maximum upward velocity rather than with the times when the elevation of the surveyed poles had reached a maximum. On the basis of the hypothesis of water storage at the bed this finding means that the sliding velocity is influenced mainly by the subglacial water pressure and the actual, transient stage of cavity development, while the amount of stored water is of lesser influence.

scholarly journals Subglacial Processes at Bondhusbreen, Norway: Preliminary Results

1983 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Ove Hagen ◽  
Bjørn Wold ◽  
Olav Liestøl ◽  
Gunnar Østrem ◽  
Johan Ludvig Sollid
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Running Water ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Annual Water Discharge ◽  
Small Channels

Subglacial hydrology, sediment transport, pressure, and temperature have been studied beneath approximately 160 m of ice at Sondhusbreen, an outlet glacier from Folgefonni in south-western Norway.The volume of the mean annual water discharge passing through the study area is about 60x106 m3. Most of this water is diverted into a tunnel system in the rock beneath the glacier and used for hydroelectric power generation. At the beginning of the melt season, this water flows in multiple small channels, but later it collects in one or two main channels. The discharge of eroded material is about 7 600 tonnes a−1. Of this, roughly 90% is transported by running water.Pressure gauges and thermistors were installed at two sites under the glacier. Results from one of the sites indicated that ice can stagnate in some leeward positions, as almost no ice movement was recorded during most of the period of measurement and the pressure distribution was nearly hydrostatic. However, increased water pressure during the summer apparently resulted in the opening of subglacial cavities, adding a local up-glacier component to the flow at this site.At another location, about 20 m up-glacier, non-hydrostatic differential pressures of up to 30 bar were recorded across an artificial dome-shaped obstacle. The flow at this location was more steady, in general, but rather dramatic effects were recorded when a boulder 0.3 m3 in size passed over the obstacle, destroying one of the pressure sensors. This sensor recorded a pressure of 90 bar before failing. The boulder was moving at a speed of about 40 mm d-1, whereas the sliding velocity of the ice was 80 mm d-1. Temperature measurements suggest that the difference in temperature across this obstacle was less than 0.03 deg, or an order of magnitude less than expected. This may mean that water was squeezed out of the ice on the stoss side of the obstacle as suggested by Robin (1976), and thus was not available to warm the lee-side ice by refreezing.

scholarly journals Subglacial Processes at Bondhusbreen, Norway: Preliminary Results

1983 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Ove Hagen ◽  
Bjørn Wold ◽  
Olav Liestøl ◽  
Gunnar Østrem ◽  
Johan Ludvig Sollid
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Running Water ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Annual Water Discharge ◽  
Small Channels

Subglacial hydrology, sediment transport, pressure, and temperature have been studied beneath approximately 160 m of ice at Sondhusbreen, an outlet glacier from Folgefonni in south-western Norway.The volume of the mean annual water discharge passing through the study area is about 60x106m3. Most of this water is diverted into a tunnel system in the rock beneath the glacier and used for hydroelectric power generation. At the beginning of the melt season, this water flows in multiple small channels, but later it collects in one or two main channels. The discharge of eroded material is about 7 600 tonnes a−1. Of this, roughly 90% is transported by running water.Pressure gauges and thermistors were installed at two sites under the glacier. Results from one of the sites indicated that ice can stagnate in some leeward positions, as almost no ice movement was recorded during most of the period of measurement and the pressure distribution was nearly hydrostatic. However, increased water pressure during the summer apparently resulted in the opening of subglacial cavities, adding a local up-glacier component to the flow at this site.At another location, about 20 m up-glacier, non-hydrostatic differential pressures of up to 30 bar were recorded across an artificial dome-shaped obstacle. The flow at this location was more steady, in general, but rather dramatic effects were recorded when a boulder 0.3 m3in size passed over the obstacle, destroying one of the pressure sensors. This sensor recorded a pressure of 90 bar before failing. The boulder was moving at a speed of about 40 mm d-1, whereas the sliding velocity of the ice was 80 mm d-1. Temperature measurements suggest that the difference in temperature across this obstacle was less than 0.03 deg, or an order of magnitude less than expected. This may mean that water was squeezed out of the ice on the stoss side of the obstacle as suggested by Robin (1976), and thus was not available to warm the lee-side ice by refreezing.

Evaluation of nutrient runoff from the kako river by continuous daily sampling

1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 67-72
Author(s):  
Yukio Komai
Keyword(s):  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Electronic Conductivity ◽  
High Water ◽  
Nutrient Loads ◽  
Discharge Condition ◽  
Nutrient Runoff ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Daily Sampling ◽  
A Site

A water sample was taken once a day for 15 months at a site near an estuary of the Kako River, Japan, to estimate nutrient loads from rivers to the sea. Total phosphorus (T-P), total nitrogen (T-N), suspended solids (SS) and electronic conductivity (EC) were measured. T-P and SS concentrations varied in proportion to the discharge, and T-P concentrations increased with those of SS, too. EC varied inversely with the discharge, but the fluctuations of T-N concentrations were less than those of T-P and SS concentrations. Water quality remained, for the most part, constant throughout the day. T-P, T-N and SS load were 181t/year, 2320t/year and 51000t/year in 1992, respectively, 54% of T-P load, 47% of T-N load and 80% of SS loads outflowed in those cases where the discharge was more than 100 m3/s, which were 36 days in 1992. 79% of T-P load, 69% of T-N load and 92% of SS load outflowed in periods of high water discharge, which were 88 in 1992. T-P and T-N loads calculated by using one day's data in every month were 151t/year and 2450t/year. But nutrient loads calculated by using the average value of data from an ordinary discharge were two or three times lower than calculated yearly loads. These results showed the importance of estimating the yearly load considering the discharge condition and sampling at a time of high water discharge.

scholarly journals Short-term Variations in Strain and Surface Tilt on Storglaciären, Kebnekaise, Northern Sweden

1989 ◽  
Vol 35 (120) ◽  
pp. 201-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Jansson ◽  
Roger LeB. Hooke
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
High Water ◽  
Ice Thickness ◽  
Gradual Change ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Vertical Movements ◽  
Bed Topography ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Local Uplift

AbstractTiltmeters that can detect changes in slope of a glacier surface as small as 0.1 μ rad have been used on Storglaciären. The records obtained to date have been from the upper part of the ablation area, where the bed of the glacier is overdeepened. A total of 82 d of records has been obtained for various time periods between early June and early September.There is generally a gradual change in inclination of the glacier surface over periods of several days, but these changes do not appear to be systematic. In particular, they are not consistent with vertical movements of stakes located 2–3 ice thicknesses away from the tiltmeters. This suggests that the tiltmeters are sensing disturbances over areas with diameters comparable to the local ice thickness.Superimposed on these trends are diurnal signals suggesting rises and falls of the surface just up-glacier from the riegel that bounds the overdeepening on its down-glacier end. These may be due to waves of high water pressure originating in a crevassed area near the equilibrium line. If this interpretation is correct, the waves apparently move down-glacier at speeds of 20–60 m h−1and become sufficiently focused, either by the bed topography or by conduit constrictions, to result in local uplift of the surface. Also observed are abrupt tilts towards the glacier center line shortly after the beginning of heavy rainstorms. These appear to be due to longitudinal stretching as the part of the glacier below the riegel accelerates faster than that above. Water entering the glacier by way of a series of crevasses over the riegel is believed to be responsible for this differential acceleration. In June 1987, a dramatic event was registered, probably reflecting the initial summer acceleration of the glacier.

scholarly journals Is there enough star formation in simulated protoclusters?

2020 ◽  
Vol 501 (2) ◽  
pp. 1803-1822
Author(s):  
Seunghwan Lim ◽  
Douglas Scott ◽  
Arif Babul ◽  
David J Barnes ◽  
Scott T Kay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Galaxy Formation ◽  
Star Formation History ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Numerical Resolution ◽  
Formation History ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
History Of ◽  
Hydrodynamical Simulations ◽  
Formation Efficiency

ABSTRACT As progenitors of the most massive objects, protoclusters are key to tracing the evolution and star formation history of the Universe, and are responsible for ${\gtrsim }\, 20$ per cent of the cosmic star formation at $z\, {\gt }\, 2$. Using a combination of state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulations and empirical models, we show that current galaxy formation models do not produce enough star formation in protoclusters to match observations. We find that the star formation rates (SFRs) predicted from the models are an order of magnitude lower than what is seen in observations, despite the relatively good agreement found for their mass-accretion histories, specifically that they lie on an evolutionary path to become Coma-like clusters at $z\, {\simeq }\, 0$. Using a well-studied protocluster core at $z\, {=}\, 4.3$ as a test case, we find that star formation efficiency of protocluster galaxies is higher than predicted by the models. We show that a large part of the discrepancy can be attributed to a dependence of SFR on the numerical resolution of the simulations, with a roughly factor of 3 drop in SFR when the spatial resolution decreases by a factor of 4. We also present predictions up to $z\, {\simeq }\, 7$. Compared to lower redshifts, we find that centrals (the most massive member galaxies) are more distinct from the other galaxies, while protocluster galaxies are less distinct from field galaxies. All these results suggest that, as a rare and extreme population at high z, protoclusters can help constrain galaxy formation models tuned to match the average population at $z\, {\simeq }\, 0$.

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