Measuring glacier-motion fluctuations using a computer-controlled survey system

1986 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 727-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry K. C. Clarke ◽  
Robert D. Meldrum ◽  
Sam G. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Measuring System ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Stationary Target ◽  
Survey System ◽  
Computer Controlled ◽  
Glacier Flow ◽  
Glacier Motion

We describe a computer-controlled, distance-measuring system designed for glacier-motion surveys. A Sharp PC-1500 pocket computer is used to control an AGA Geodimeter 122 infrared laser ranger. Slope distance and vertical angle are automatically measured and plotted at preselected time intervals and recorded on magnetic tape. As a demonstration, three field experiments were performed on Trapridge Glacier, Yukon Territory. In the first experiment the position of a glacier flow marker was measured at 1 min intervals for 39 h. The average velocity (toward the instrument) was found to be 2.99 mm h−1. Subglacial water pressure was simultaneously measured at the flow marker site. For the duration of the survey, water pressure was low, and there is no clear relationship between pressure variations and glacier motion. In the second experiment the distance to a stationary target was measured at 1 min intervals for 9 h. The calculated motion of this target was −0.149 mm h−1, giving an indication of the magnitude of uncorrected distance errors. The third experiment lasted 35 h and again involved measurements of glacier flow. The calculated target motion was 1.80 mm h−1 toward the instrument.

scholarly journals Estimation of subglacial hydraulic properties from induced changes in basal water pressure: a theoretical framework for borehole-response tests

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (132) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan B. Stone ◽  
Garry K.C. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Skin Friction ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Basal Layer ◽  
Coupled System ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Borehole Water

AbstractIn this paper we develop a theoretical model describing water motion in a coupled borehole-subglacial flow system. The theory applies to basal drainage systems having multiple and extensive interconnected flow paths. Within this domain it encompasses a broad range of flow regimes, from laminar Darcian flow in a thick permeable unit to turbulent sheet flow in a very thin layer. Important terms in the model are highlighted by recasting the problem in dimensionless form. The non-dimensional formulation indicates that there are four free parameters in the coupled system. These parameters characterize skin friction in the borehole, and diffusion, transmissivity and turbulent transport in the subglacial flow layer. Dimensionless results show that, under most circumstances, the effects of skin friction in the borehole are negligible. Diffusion, transmissivity and especially turbulent transport in the basal layer are found to influence subglacial water flow strongly. We use our model to predict fluctuations of borehole-water levels that result from different types of disturbances. We show how this framework can be used to estimate subglacial hydraulic properties by comparing model results with data collected during field experiments on Trapridge Glacier, Yukon Territory, Canada in 1989 and 1990.

scholarly journals Estimation of subglacial hydraulic properties from induced changes in basal water pressure: a theoretical framework for borehole-response tests

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (132) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan B. Stone ◽  
Garry K.C. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Skin Friction ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Transport ◽  
Basal Layer ◽  
Coupled System ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Borehole Water

AbstractIn this paper we develop a theoretical model describing water motion in a coupled borehole-subglacial flow system. The theory applies to basal drainage systems having multiple and extensive interconnected flow paths. Within this domain it encompasses a broad range of flow regimes, from laminar Darcian flow in a thick permeable unit to turbulent sheet flow in a very thin layer. Important terms in the model are highlighted by recasting the problem in dimensionless form. The non-dimensional formulation indicates that there are four free parameters in the coupled system. These parameters characterize skin friction in the borehole, and diffusion, transmissivity and turbulent transport in the subglacial flow layer. Dimensionless results show that, under most circumstances, the effects of skin friction in the borehole are negligible. Diffusion, transmissivity and especially turbulent transport in the basal layer are found to influence subglacial water flow strongly. We use our model to predict fluctuations of borehole-water levels that result from different types of disturbances. We show how this framework can be used to estimate subglacial hydraulic properties by comparing model results with data collected during field experiments on Trapridge Glacier, Yukon Territory, Canada in 1989 and 1990.

scholarly journals Abrupt glacier motion and reorganization of basal shear stress following the establishment of a connected drainage system

2001 ◽  
Vol 47 (158) ◽  
pp. 472-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Kavanaugh ◽  
Garry K. C. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Stable Configuration ◽  
Drainage Patterns ◽  
Pressure Pulses ◽  
Gradual Failure ◽  
Basal Shear ◽  
Pressure Changes ◽  
Glacier Motion

AbstractThree episodes of strong basal motion occurred at Trapridge Glacier, Yukon Territory, Canada, on 11 June 1995 following the establishment of a connected subglacial drainage system. Responses to these “spring events” are noted in the records for 42 instruments and were recorded throughout the ∼60 000 m2 study area. Strong basal motion during the events is indicated by ploughmeter, load-bolt and vertical-strain records, and abrupt pressure changes in several transducer records denote damage caused by extreme pressure pulses. These pressure pulses, generated by the abrupt basal motion, also resulted in the failure of seven pressure sensors. Records for pressure, turbidity and conductivity sensors indicate that basal drainage patterns did not change significantly during the events. Geophone records suggest that the episodes of basal motion were precipitated by the gradual failure of a “sticky spot” following hydraulic connection of part of the study area. This failure resulted in the transfer of basal stress to the unconnected region of the bed during the course of the events. No evidence for strong basal motion is seen in the instrument records for several weeks following the events, suggesting that the mechanical adjustments resulted in a stable configuration of basal stresses. This event illustrates how unstable situations can be quickly accommodated by mechanical adjustments at the glacier bed.

scholarly journals Oscillatory subglacial drainage in the absence of surface melt

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 959-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Schoof ◽  
C. A Rada ◽  
N. J. Wilson ◽  
G. E. Flowers ◽  
M. Haseloff
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Pressure Oscillations ◽  
Power Failure ◽  
Multiple Data ◽  
Data Loggers ◽  
Diurnal Cycling ◽  
Subglacial Drainage

Abstract. The presence of strong diurnal cycling in basal water pressure records obtained during the melt season is well established for many glaciers. The behaviour of the drainage system outside the melt season is less well understood. Here we present borehole observations from a surge-type valley glacier in the St Elias Mountains, Yukon Territory, Canada. Our data indicate the onset of strongly correlated multi-day oscillations in water pressure in multiple boreholes straddling a main drainage axis, starting several weeks after the disappearance of a dominant diurnal mode in August 2011 and persisting until at least January 2012, when multiple data loggers suffered power failure. Jökulhlaups provide a template for understanding spontaneous water pressure oscillations not driven by external supply variability. Using a subglacial drainage model, we show that water pressure oscillations can also be driven on a much smaller scale by the interaction between conduit growth and distributed water storage in smaller water pockets, basal crevasses and moulins, and that oscillations can be triggered when water supply drops below a critical value. We suggest this in combination with a steady background supply of water from ground water or englacial drainage as a possible explanation for the observed wintertime pressure oscillations.

Dual permeability soil water dynamics and water uptake by roots in irrigated potato fields

Biologia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
František Doležal ◽  
David Zumr ◽  
Josef Vacek ◽  
Josef Zavadil ◽  
Adriano Battilani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Boundary Curve ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Permeability Model ◽  
Soil Matrix

AbstractWater movement and uptake by roots in a drip-irrigated potato field was studied by combining field experiments, outputs of numerical simulations and summary results of an EU project (www.fertorganic.org). Detailed measurements of soil suction and weather conditions in the Bohemo-Moravian highland made it possible to derive improved estimates of some parameters for the dual permeability model S1D_DUAL. A reasonably good agreement between the measured and the estimated soil hydraulic properties was obtained. The measured root zone depths were near to those obtained by inverse simulation with S1D _DUAL and to a boundary curve approximation. The measured and S1D _DUAL-simulated soil water pressure heads were comparable with those achieved by simulations with the Daisy model. During dry spells, the measured pressure heads tended to be higher than the simulated ones. In general, the former oscillated between the simulated values for soil matrix and those for the preferential flow (PF) domain. Irrigation facilitated deep seepage after rain events. We conclude that several parallel soil moisture sensors are needed for adequate irrigation control. The sensors cannot detect the time when the irrigation should be stopped.

scholarly journals Stress in an Elastic Bedrock Hump Due to Glacier Flow

1977 ◽  
Vol 18 (78) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. W. Morland ◽  
E. M. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Stress Field ◽  
Applied Load ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Normal Pressure ◽  
Cohesive Stress ◽  
Coulomb Failure ◽  
Gravity Effects ◽  
Coulomb Failure Criterion ◽  
Glacier Flow

Abstract The stress field in an isotropic elastic hump representing a typical bedrock feature is obtained for plane strain conditions. Gravity effects are included and the applied load is a normal pressure distribution deduced from an idealized model of glacier flow. A Coulomb failure criterion is applied, including the effective stress change due to pore-water pressure, and stresses on the predicted failure planes determined for different pressure amplitudes and relative gravity contributions. The latter make little difference to the maximum “failure stress" but influence the regions where such stress levels occur. Levels of cohesive stress required to inhibit Coulomb failure are obtained, and are low in general, implying that coherent rock in the adopted hump profile, subject to the model pressure, would not fail. That is, this profile is stable unless jointing introduces an easier failure mechanism.

A re-examination of pseudoleucite from Spotted Fawn Creek, west-central Yukon

1969 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk J. Tempelman-Kluit
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Fluid Phase ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Chemical Data ◽  
Partial Removal ◽  
West Central

New petrographic and chemical data for pseudoleucite from Spotted Fawn Creek and two new nearby localities in central Yukon Territory are presented and discussed in the light of recent experimental evidence on the origin of pseudoleucite. The petrologic, chemical, and experimental data suggest that natural pseudoleucite results from subsolidus breakdown of leucite under water pressure and that the space provided by this breakdown results in influx of the fluid phase that accomplishes partial removal of potash, enrichment in soda, and addition of water.

System Implications of the Ambulance Arrival-to-Patient Contact Interval on Response Interval Compliance

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack P. Campbell ◽  
Matthew C. Gratton ◽  
Joseph A. Salomone ◽  
Daniel J. Lindholm ◽  
William A. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Public Utility ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Measuring System ◽  
System Response ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Patient Access ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Chi Square

AbstractBackground:Background: In some emergency medical services (EMS) system designs, response time intervals are mandated with monetary penalties for noncompliance. These times are set with the goal of providing rapid, definitive patient care. The time interval of vehicle at scene-to-patient access (VSPA) has been measured, but its effect on response time interval compliance has not been determined.Purpose:To determine the effect of the VSPA interval on the mandated code 1 (<9 min) and code 2 (<13 min) response time interval compliance in an urban, public-utility model system.Methods:A prospective, observational study used independent third-party riders to collect the VSPA interval for emergency life-threatening (code 1) and emergency nonlife-threatening (code 2) calls. The VSPA interval was added to the 9-1-1 call-to-dispatch and vehicle dispatch-to-scene intervals to determine the total time interval from call received until paramedic access to the patient (9-1-1 call-to-patient access). Compliance with the man dated response time intervals was determined using the traditional time intervals (9-1-1 call-to-scene) plus the VSPA time intervals (9-1-1 call-to-patient access). Chi-square was used to determine statistical significance.Results:Of the 216 observed calls, 198 were matched to the traditional time intervals. Sixty three were code 1, and 135 were code 2. Of the code 1 calls, 90.5% were compliant using 9-1-1 call-to-scene intervals dropping to 63.5% using 9-1-1 call-to-patient access intervals (p<0.0005). Of the code 2 calls, 94.1% were compliant using 9-1-1 call-to-scene intervals. Compliance decreased to 83.7% using 9-1-1 call-to-patient access intervals (p = 0.012).Conclusion:The addition of the VSPA interval to the traditional time intervals impacts system response time compliance. Using 9-1-1 call-to-scene compliance as a basis for measuring system performance underestimates the time for the delivery of definitive care. This must be considered when response time interval compliances are defined.

Subglacial water pressure records from a fast-flowing outlet glacier in Greenland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Doyle ◽  
Bryn Hubbard ◽  
Poul Christoffersen ◽  
Marion Bougamont ◽  
Robert Law ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Pressure ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Distinct Component ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Diurnal Cycles ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Hydrological System ◽  
Discharge Pressure ◽  
Glacier Motion

&lt;p&gt;Glacier motion is resisted by basal traction that can be reduced significantly by pressurised water at the ice-bed interface. Few records of subglacial water pressure have been collected from fast-flowing, marine-terminating glaciers despite such glaciers accounting for approximately half of total ice discharge from the Greenland Ice Sheet. &amp;#160;The paucity of such measurements is due to the practical challenges in drilling and instrumenting boreholes to the bed, in areas that are often heavily-crevassed, through rapidly-deforming ice that ruptures sensor cables within weeks. Here, we present pressure records and drilling observations from two sites located 30 km from the calving front of Store Glacier in West Greenland, where ice flow averages ~600 m yr&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;.&amp;#160; In 2018, boreholes were drilled 950 m to the bed near the margin of a large, rapidly-draining supraglacial lake. In 2019, multiple boreholes were drilled ~1030 m to the bed in the centre of the drained supraglacial lake, and in close proximity to a large, active moulin. All boreholes drained rapidly when they intersected or approached the ice-bed interface, which is commonly interpreted as indicating connection to an active subglacial drainage system. Neighbouring boreholes responded to the breakthrough of subsequent boreholes demonstrating hydrological or mechanical inter-connection over a distance of ~70 m. Differences in the time series of water pressure indicate that each borehole intersected a distinct component of the subglacial hydrological system. Boreholes located within 250 m of the moulin reveal clear diurnal cycles either in phase or anti-phase with moulin discharge. Pressure records from boreholes located on the lake margin, however, show smaller amplitude, and less distinct, diurnal cycles superimposed on longer-period (e.g. multiday) variability. We compare these datasets to those in the literature and investigate consistencies and inconsistencies with glacio-hydrological theory.&lt;/p&gt;

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document