scholarly journals Basal Sliding and Conditions at the Glacier Bed as Revealed by Bore-hole Photography

1978 ◽  
Vol 20 (84) ◽  
pp. 469-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. Engelhardt ◽  
W. D. Harrison ◽  
Barclay Kamb
Keyword(s):  
Flow Direction ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Internal Motions ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Bed Roughness ◽  
Atmospheric Factors ◽  
Basal Shear

AbstractBore-hole photography demonstrates that the glacier bed was reached by cable-tool drilling in five bore holes in Blue Glacier, Washington. Basal sliding velocities measured by bore-hole photography, and confirmed by inclinometry, range from 0.3 to 3.0 cm/d and average 1.0 cm/d, much less than half the surface velocity of 15 cm/d. Sliding directions deviate up to 30° from the surface flow direction. Marked lateral and time variations in sliding velocity occur. The glacier bed consists of bedrock overlain by a ≈ 10 cm layer ofactive subsole drift, which intervenes between bedrock and ice sole and is actively involved in the sliding process. It forms a mechanically and visibly distinct layer, partially to completely ice-free, beneath the zone of debris-laden ice at the base of the glacier. Internal motions in the subsole drift include rolling of clasts caught between bedrock and moving ice. The largest sliding velocities occur in places where a basal gap, of width up to a few centimeters, intervenes between ice sole and subsole drift. The gap may result from ice—bed separation due to pressurization of the bed by bore-hole water. Water levels in bore holes reaching the bed drop to the bottom when good hydraulic connection is established with sub-glacial conduits; the water pressure in the conduits is essentially atmospheric. Factors responsible for the generally low sliding velocities are high bed roughness due to subsole drift, partial support of basal shear stress by rock friction, and minimal basal cavitation because of low water pressure in subglacial conduits. The observed basal conditions do not closely correspond to those assumed in existing theories of sliding.

scholarly journals Basal Sliding and Conditions at the Glacier Bed as Revealed by Bore-hole Photography

1978 ◽  
Vol 20 (84) ◽  
pp. 469-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. Engelhardt ◽  
W. D. Harrison ◽  
Barclay Kamb
Keyword(s):  
Flow Direction ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Internal Motions ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Bed Roughness ◽  
Atmospheric Factors ◽  
Basal Shear

AbstractBore-hole photography demonstrates that the glacier bed was reached by cable-tool drilling in five bore holes in Blue Glacier, Washington. Basal sliding velocities measured by bore-hole photography, and confirmed by inclinometry, range from 0.3 to 3.0 cm/d and average 1.0 cm/d, much less than half the surface velocity of 15 cm/d. Sliding directions deviate up to 30° from the surface flow direction. Marked lateral and time variations in sliding velocity occur. The glacier bed consists of bedrock overlain by a ≈ 10 cm layer of active subsole drift, which intervenes between bedrock and ice sole and is actively involved in the sliding process. It forms a mechanically and visibly distinct layer, partially to completely ice-free, beneath the zone of debris-laden ice at the base of the glacier. Internal motions in the subsole drift include rolling of clasts caught between bedrock and moving ice. The largest sliding velocities occur in places where a basal gap, of width up to a few centimeters, intervenes between ice sole and subsole drift. The gap may result from ice—bed separation due to pressurization of the bed by bore-hole water. Water levels in bore holes reaching the bed drop to the bottom when good hydraulic connection is established with sub-glacial conduits; the water pressure in the conduits is essentially atmospheric. Factors responsible for the generally low sliding velocities are high bed roughness due to subsole drift, partial support of basal shear stress by rock friction, and minimal basal cavitation because of low water pressure in subglacial conduits. The observed basal conditions do not closely correspond to those assumed in existing theories of sliding.

scholarly journals Combined measurements of Subglacial Water Pressure and Surface Velocity of Findelengletscher, Switzerland: Conclusions about Drainage System and Sliding Mechanism

1986 ◽  
Vol 32 (110) ◽  
pp. 101-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almut Iken ◽  
Robert A. Bindschadler
Keyword(s):  
Functional Relationship ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Measured Velocity ◽  
Sliding Mechanism ◽  
Velocity Variations

AbstractDuring the snow-melt season of 1982, basal water pressure was recorded in 11 bore holes communicating with the subglacial drainage system. In most of these holes the water levels were at approximately the same depth (around 70 m below surface). The large variations of water pressure, such as diurnal variations, were usually similar at different locations and in phase. In two instances of exceptionally high water pressure, however, systematic phase shifts were observed; a wave of high pressure travelled down-glacier with a velocity of approximately 100 m/h.The glacier-surface velocity was measured at four lines of stakes several times daily. The velocity variations correlated with variations in subglacial water pressure. The functional relationship of water pressure and velocity suggests that fluctuating bed separation was responsible for the velocity variations. The empirical functional relationship is compared to that of sliding over a perfectly lubricated sinusoidal bed. On the basis of the measured velocity-pressure relationship, this model predicts a reasonable value of bed roughness but too high a sliding velocity and unstable sliding at too low a water pressure. The main reason for this disagreement is probably the neglect of friction from debris in the sliding model.The measured water pressure was considerably higher than that predicted by the theory of steady flow through straight cylindrical channels near the glacier bed. Possible reasons are considered. The very large disagreement between measured and predicted pressure suggests that no straight cylindrical channels may have existed.

scholarly journals Three-dimensional hydrodynamics numerical of wind-driven circulations in Danjiangkou Reservoir

2018 ◽  
Vol 246 ◽  
pp. 02021
Author(s):  
Jie Zhu ◽  
Jin Quan ◽  
Xiaohui Lei ◽  
Xia Yue ◽  
Yang Duan
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Potential Flow ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Wind Condition ◽  
Reservoir Area ◽  
Danjiangkou Reservoir

This paper focuses on the analysis of the flow field of Danjiangkou Reservoir under the action of wind stress. Based on the analysis of the annual wind field data of Danjiangkou Reservoir, the three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of Danjiangkou Reservoir was established. The distribution of water flow field in the reservoir area under five different wind directions and two different wind speeds was studied. The simulation results were compared with the flow field without wind. The results show that when the wind speed in the reservoir area is 3.3m/s, the surface velocity and flow direction change less under the same wind conditions as the potential flow direction. Under the wind condition opposite to the potential flow direction, the reservoir area is locally generated. The small circulation and surface flow are more disordered; when the wind speed reaches 10.0m/s, under the same wind condition as the potential flow direction, the surface velocity of the reservoir area increases significantly. Under the wind condition opposite to the direction of the potential flow, a stable counterclockwise circulation is generated, and the wind direction dominates the surface layer. seriously affecting the flow field distribution in the reservoir area. The research results in this paper can provide support for the reservoir in the formulation of emergency water pollution emergency strategy and the formulation of real-time scheduling plan.

scholarly journals Basal Water Film, Basal Water Pressure, and Velocity of Traveling Waves on Glaciers

1983 ◽  
Vol 29 (101) ◽  
pp. 20-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Weertman ◽  
G. E. Birchfield
Keyword(s):  
Traveling Waves ◽  
Traveling Wave ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Water Film ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Sliding Velocity ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Basal Shear

Abstract The theory of Nye and of Weertman of traveling waves on glaciers is extended to cover the situation where the presence of abundant basal water or increased basal water pressure produces increased sliding of a glacier over its bed. It is found that the ratio of traveling-wave velocity to surface velocity is independent of the amount of water or the basal water pressure. The theoretical value of this ratio, about 4 to 5, agrees with that found in field measurements (the most recent data are from Mer de Glace). It is concluded that field observations of traveling-wave velocities lend strong support to any glacier sliding theory in which the sliding velocity is proportional to the basal shear stress raised to about a second to fifth power and in which the sliding velocity is a function of either or both the amount of water at the bed of a glacier and the pressure within this water.

scholarly journals Thermal structure and basal sliding parametrisation at Pine Island Glacier – a 3-D full-Stokes model study

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 4913-4957
Author(s):  
N. Wilkens ◽  
J. Behrens ◽  
T. Kleiner ◽  
D. Rippin ◽  
M. Rückamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Structure ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Model Study ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Global Sea Level ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Pine Island Glacier is one of the fastest changing glaciers in the Antarctic Ice Sheet and therefore in scientific focus. The glacier holds enough ice to raise global sea level significantly (∼0.5 m), when fully melted. The question addressed by numerous modelling studies of the glacier focuses on whether the observed changes are a start for an uncontrolled and accelerating retreat. The movement of the glacier is, in the fast flowing areas, dominated by basal motion. In modelling studies the parametrisation of the basal motion is therefore crucial. Inversion methods are commonly applied to reproduce the complex surface flow structure at Pine Island Glacier, which use information of the observed surface velocity field, to constrain basal sliding. We introduce two different approaches of combining a physical parameter, the basal roughness, with basal sliding parametrisations. This way basal sliding is connected again to its original formulation. We show that the basal roughness is an important and helpful parameter to consider and that many features of the flow structure could be reproduced with these approaches.

scholarly journals Water pressure and basal sliding on Storglaciären, northern Sweden

1995 ◽  
Vol 41 (138) ◽  
pp. 232-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Jansson
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Weakly Coupled ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Image Position ◽  
Hydraulic Jacking ◽  
Small Valley

AbstractThe subglacial hydrology of the ablation area of Storglaciären, a small valley glacier in northern Sweden, is dramatically affected by a subglacial ridge, or riegel. Water pressures above this riegel are relatively constant, while down-glacier from it they vary significantly. The lower part of the glacier accelerates in response to peaks in basal water pressure. The upper part may be weakly coupled to the lower part during these peaks.A power-law fit of observed basal water pressures and measured surface velocities yieldswhereusis the surface velocity andPEis the effective water pressure (ice overburden pressure minus subglacial water pressure). Data from Findelengletscher, reported by Iken and Bindschadler (1986), yield an identical exponent and a coefficient one order of magnitude larger. The similar exponent implies that the process producing the velocity variations on both glaciers is similar. The variations in velocity are inferred to be due to hydraulic jacking on both glaciers.

scholarly journals Investigating changes in basal conditions of Variegated Glacier prior to and during its 1982–1983 surge

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 659-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jay-Allemand ◽  
F. Gillet-Chaulet ◽  
O. Gagliardini ◽  
M. Nodet
Keyword(s):  
Flow Line ◽  
Stokes Problem ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Parameter Distribution ◽  
Basal Friction ◽  
Friction Parameter ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Regular Increase

Abstract. Variegated Glacier (Alaska) is known to surge periodically after a sufficient amount of cumulative mass balance is reached, but this observation is difficult to link with changes in the basal conditions. Here, using a 10-yr dataset, consisting of surface topography and surface velocity observations along a flow line for 25 dates, we have reconstructed the evolution of the basal conditions prior to and during the 1982–1983 surge. The model solves the full-Stokes problem along the central flow line using the finite element method. For the 25 dates of the dataset, the basal friction parameter distribution is inferred using the inverse method proposed by Arthern and Gudmundsson (2010). This method is here slightly modified by incorporating a regularisation term in the cost function to avoid short wavelength changes in the friction parameter. Our results indicate that dramatic changes in the basal conditions occurred between 1973 to 1983. Prior to the surge, periodic changes can be observed between winter and summer, with a regular increase of the sliding from 1973 to 1982. During the surge, the basal friction decreased dramatically and an area of very low friction moved from the upper part of the glacier to its terminus. Using a more complex friction law, these changes in basal sliding are then interpreted in terms of basal water pressure. Our results support that dramatic changes took place in the subglacial drainage system of Variegated Glacier, moving from a relatively efficient drainage system prior to the surge to an inefficient one during the surge. By reconstructing the water pressure evolution at the base of the glacier it is possible to propose a scenario for the hydrological history leading to the occurrence of a surge.

scholarly journals In search of ice-stream sticky spots

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (133) ◽  
pp. 447-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Alley
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Pressure Measurements ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Ice Stream ◽  
Bed Roughness ◽  
Basal Shear

AbstractThe basal shear stress of an ice stream may be supported disproportionately on localized regions or “sticky spots”. The drag induced by large bedrock bumps sticking into the base of an ice stream is the most likely cause of sticky spots. Discontinuity of lubricating till can cause sticky spots, but they will collect lubricating water and therefore are unlikely to support a shear stress of more than a few tenths of a bar unless they contain abundant large bumps. Raised regions on the ice-air surface can also cause moderate increases in the shear stress supported on the bed beneath. Surveys of large-scale bed roughness would identify sticky spots caused by bedrock bumps, water-pressure measurements in regions of thin or zero till might reveal whether they were sticky spots, and strain grids across the margins of ice-surface highs would show whether the highs were causing sticky spots. Sticky spots probably are not dominant in controlling Ice Stream Β near the Upstream Β camp, West Antarctica.

scholarly journals Derived bedrock elevations, strain rates and stresses from measured surface elevations and velocities: Jakobshavns Isbræ, Greenland

1995 ◽  
Vol 41 (137) ◽  
pp. 161-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Fastook ◽  
Henry H. Brecher ◽  
Terence J. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Flow Direction ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Curvilinear Coordinates ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Strain Rates ◽  
Bed Topography ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Grid Points

AbstractJakobshavns Isbræ (69 °10′ N, 49 °59′ W) drains about 6.5% of the Greenland ice sheet and is the fastest ice stream known. The Jakobshavns Isbræ basin of about 10 000 km2was mapped photogrammetrically from four sets of aerial photography, two taken in July 1985 and two in July 1986. Positions and elevations of several hundred natural features on the ice surface were determined for each epoch by photogrammetric block aerial triangulation, and surface velocity vectors were computed from the positions. The two flights in 1985 yielded the best results and provided most common points (716) for velocity determinations and are therefore used in the modeling studies. The data from these irregularly spaced points were used to calculate ice elevations and velocity vectors at uniformly spaced grid points 3 km apart by interpolation. The field of surface strain rates was then calculated from these gridded data and used to compute the field of surface deviatoric stresses, using the flow law of ice, for rectilinear coordinates,X, Ypointing eastward and northward, and curvilinear coordinates.L, Τpointing longitudinally and transversely to the changing ice-flow direction, Ice-surface elevations and slopes were then used to calculate ice thicknesses and the fraction of the ice velocity due to basal sliding. Our calculated ice thicknesses are in fair agreement with an ice-thickness map based on seismic sounding and supplied to us by K. Echelmeyer. Ice thicknesses were subtracted from measured ice-surface elevations to map bed topography. Our calculation shows that basal sliding is significant only in the 10–15 km before Jakobshavns Isbræ becomes afloat in Jakobshavns Isfjord.

scholarly journals Thermal structure and basal sliding parametrisation at Pine Island Glacier – a 3-D full-Stokes model study

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 675-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Wilkens ◽  
J. Behrens ◽  
T. Kleiner ◽  
D. Rippin ◽  
M. Rückamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Structure ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Model Study ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Global Sea Level ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Pine Island Glacier is one of the fastest changing glaciers of the Antarctic Ice Sheet and therefore of scientific interest. The glacier holds enough ice to raise the global sea level significantly (~ 0.5 m) when fully melted. The question addressed by numerous modelling studies of the glacier focuses on whether the observed changes are a start of an uncontrolled and accelerating retreat. The movement of the glacier is, in the fast-flowing areas, dominated by basal motion. In modelling studies the parametrisation of the basal motion is therefore crucial. Inversion methods are commonly applied to reproduce the complex surface flow structure of Pine Island Glacier by using information of the observed surface velocity field to constrain, among other things, basal sliding. We introduce two different approaches of combining a physical parameter, the basal roughness, with basal sliding parametrisations. This way basal sliding is again connected closer to its original formulation. We show that the basal roughness is an important and helpful parameter to consider and that many features of the flow structure can be reproduced with these approaches.

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