scholarly journals Variations in the Sliding of a Temperate Glacier

1974 ◽  
Vol 13 (69) ◽  
pp. 349-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Hodge
Keyword(s):  
Water Discharge ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Sliding Speed ◽  
Temporary Storage ◽  
State Of Stress ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Internal Deformation ◽  
Pressure Melting ◽  
Glacier Flow ◽  
Basal Shear

Detailed measurements of the positions of stakes along the center-line of the lower Nisqually Glacier were made over a period of two years. Variations in the basal sliding speed were calculated from the measured changes in surface speed, surface slope, and thickness, using the glacier flow model of Nye (1952) and allowing for the effect of the valley walls, longitudinal stress gradients, and uncertainties in the flow law of ice. The flow is predominantly by basal sliding and has a pronounced seasonal variation of approximately ±25%. Internal deformation contributes progressively less to the total motion with distance up-glacier. Neither the phase nor the magnitude of the seasonal velocity fluctuations can be accounted for by seasonal variations in the state of stress within the ice or at the bed, and the variations do not correlate directly with the melt-water discharge from the terminus. A seasonal wave in the ice flow travels down the glacier at a speed too high for propagation by internal deformation or the pressure melting/enhanced creep mechanism of basal sliding.The rate of sliding appears to be determined primarily by the amount of water in temporary storage in the glacier. The peak in sliding speed occurs, on the average, at the same time as the maximum liquid water storage of the South Cascade Glacier. The data support the idea that glaciers store water in the fall, winter and spring and then release it in the summer. This temporary storage may be greatest near the equilibrium line. The amount of stored water may increase over a period of years and be released catastrophically as a jökulhlaup. Any dependence of sliding on the basal shear stress is probably masked by the effect of variations in the hydrostatic pressure of water having access to the bed.

Variations in the Sliding of a Temperate Glacier

1974 ◽  
Vol 13 (69) ◽  
pp. 349-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Hodge
Keyword(s):  
Water Discharge ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Sliding Speed ◽  
Temporary Storage ◽  
State Of Stress ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Internal Deformation ◽  
Pressure Melting ◽  
Glacier Flow ◽  
Basal Shear

Detailed measurements of the positions of stakes along the center-line of the lower Nisqually Glacier were made over a period of two years. Variations in the basal sliding speed were calculated from the measured changes in surface speed, surface slope, and thickness, using the glacier flow model of Nye (1952) and allowing for the effect of the valley walls, longitudinal stress gradients, and uncertainties in the flow law of ice. The flow is predominantly by basal sliding and has a pronounced seasonal variation of approximately ±25%. Internal deformation contributes progressively less to the total motion with distance up-glacier. Neither the phase nor the magnitude of the seasonal velocity fluctuations can be accounted for by seasonal variations in the state of stress within the ice or at the bed, and the variations do not correlate directly with the melt-water discharge from the terminus. A seasonal wave in the ice flow travels down the glacier at a speed too high for propagation by internal deformation or the pressure melting/enhanced creep mechanism of basal sliding. The rate of sliding appears to be determined primarily by the amount of water in temporary storage in the glacier. The peak in sliding speed occurs, on the average, at the same time as the maximum liquid water storage of the South Cascade Glacier. The data support the idea that glaciers store water in the fall, winter and spring and then release it in the summer. This temporary storage may be greatest near the equilibrium line. The amount of stored water may increase over a period of years and be released catastrophically as a jökulhlaup. Any dependence of sliding on the basal shear stress is probably masked by the effect of variations in the hydrostatic pressure of water having access to the bed.

Friction at the bed does not control fast glacier flow

Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 361 (6399) ◽  
pp. 273-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Stearns ◽  
C. J. van der Veen
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Frictional Stress ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Mountain Glaciers ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Net Pressure ◽  
Glacier Flow

The largest uncertainty in the ice sheet models used to predict future sea level rise originates from our limited understanding of processes at the ice/bed interface. Near glacier termini, where basal sliding controls ice flow, most predictive ice sheet models use a parameterization of sliding that has been theoretically derived for glacier flow over a hard bed. We find that this sliding relation does not apply to the 140 Greenland glaciers that we analyzed. There is no relationship between basal sliding and frictional stress at the glacier bed, contrary to theoretical predictions. There is a strong relationship between sliding speed and net pressure at the glacier bed. This latter finding is in agreement with earlier observations of mountain glaciers that have been largely overlooked by the glaciological community.

scholarly journals The Dynamics of Ice-Sheet Outlets

1985 ◽  
Vol 31 (108) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. Mcintyre
Keyword(s):  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Ice Streams ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Ice Shelves ◽  
Surface Slopes ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Subglacial Topography ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Pressure Melting

AbstractA comparison of data from aircraft altimetry, Landsat imagery, and radia echo-sounding has shown characteristic surface topographies associated with sheet and stream flow. The transition between the two is abrupt and occurs at a step in the subglacial topography. This marks the onset of basal sliding and high velocities caused by subglacial water; it results in crevassed amphitheatre-like basins round the head of outlet glaciers. It is also the zone of maximum driving stress beyond which values decline rapidly as velocities increase. This abrupt transition appears to be topographically controlled since basal temperatures are at the pressure-melting point well inland of the change in regime. The Marie Byrd Land ice streams exhibit qualitative differences from other ice-sheet outlets, however; the change to lower driving stresses is much more gradual and occurs several hundred kilometres inland. Such ice streams have particularly low surface slopes and appear in form and flow regime to resemble confined ice shelves rather than grounded ice. The repeated association of the transition to rapid sliding with a distinct subglacial feature implies a stabilizing effect on discharge through outlet glaciers. Acceleration of the ice is pinned to a subglacial step and propagation of high velocities inland of this feature seems improbable. Rapid ice flow through subglacial trenches may also ensure a relatively permanent trough through accentuation of the feature by erosion. This is concentrated towards the heads of outlet glaciers up-stream of the region where significant basal decoupling occurs. This may be a mechanism for the overdeepening of fjords at their inland ends and the development of very steep fjord headwalls.

scholarly journals The Dynamics of Ice-Sheet Outlets

1985 ◽  
Vol 31 (108) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. Mcintyre
Keyword(s):  
Landsat Imagery ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Ice Streams ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Ice Shelves ◽  
Surface Slopes ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Subglacial Topography ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Pressure Melting

AbstractA comparison of data from aircraft altimetry, Landsat imagery, and radia echo-sounding has shown characteristic surface topographies associated with sheet and stream flow. The transition between the two is abrupt and occurs at a step in the subglacial topography. This marks the onset of basal sliding and high velocities caused by subglacial water; it results in crevassed amphitheatre-like basins round the head of outlet glaciers. It is also the zone of maximum driving stress beyond which values decline rapidly as velocities increase. This abrupt transition appears to be topographically controlled since basal temperatures are at the pressure-melting point well inland of the change in regime. The Marie Byrd Land ice streams exhibit qualitative differences from other ice-sheet outlets, however; the change to lower driving stresses is much more gradual and occurs several hundred kilometres inland. Such ice streams have particularly low surface slopes and appear in form and flow regime to resemble confined ice shelves rather than grounded ice. The repeated association of the transition to rapid sliding with a distinct subglacial feature implies a stabilizing effect on discharge through outlet glaciers. Acceleration of the ice is pinned to a subglacial step and propagation of high velocities inland of this feature seems improbable. Rapid ice flow through subglacial trenches may also ensure a relatively permanent trough through accentuation of the feature by erosion. This is concentrated towards the heads of outlet glaciers up-stream of the region where significant basal decoupling occurs. This may be a mechanism for the overdeepening of fjords at their inland ends and the development of very steep fjord headwalls.

scholarly journals Quantification of seasonal and diurnal dynamics of subglacial channels using seismic observations on an Alpine glacier

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1475-1496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugo Nanni ◽  
Florent Gimbert ◽  
Christian Vincent ◽  
Dominik Gräff ◽  
Fabian Walter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Hydraulic Pressure ◽  
Hydraulic Radius ◽  
Sliding Speed ◽  
Alpine Glacier ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Potential Link

Abstract. Water flowing below glaciers exerts a major control on glacier basal sliding. However, our knowledge of the physics of subglacial hydrology and its link with sliding is limited because of lacking observations. Here we use a 2-year-long dataset made of on-ice-measured seismic and in situ-measured glacier basal sliding speed on Glacier d'Argentière (French Alps) to investigate the physics of subglacial channels and its potential link with glacier basal sliding. Using dedicated theory and concomitant measurements of water discharge, we quantify temporal changes in channels' hydraulic radius and hydraulic pressure gradient. At seasonal timescales we find that hydraulic radius and hydraulic pressure gradient respectively exhibit a 2- and 6-fold increase from spring to summer, followed by comparable decrease towards autumn. At low discharge during the early and late melt season channels respond to changes in discharge mainly through changes in hydraulic radius, a regime that is consistent with predictions of channels' behaviour at equilibrium. In contrast, at high discharge and high short-term water-supply variability (summertime), channels undergo strong changes in hydraulic pressure gradient, a behaviour that is consistent with channels behaving out of equilibrium. This out-of-equilibrium regime is further supported by observations at the diurnal scale, which prove that channels pressurize in the morning and depressurize in the afternoon. During summer we also observe high and sustained basal sliding speed, which supports that the widespread inefficient drainage system (cavities) is likely pressurized concomitantly with the channel system. We propose that pressurized channels help sustain high pressure in cavities (and therefore high glacier sliding speed) through an efficient hydraulic connection between the two systems. The present findings provide an essential basis for testing the physics represented in subglacial hydrology and glacier sliding models.

scholarly journals Short-term variations in flow velocity of Glaciar Soler, Patagonia, Chile

1992 ◽  
Vol 38 (128) ◽  
pp. 152-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renji Naruse ◽  
Hiroshi Fukami ◽  
Masamu Aniya
Keyword(s):  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Sliding Velocity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Glacier Terminus ◽  
Basal Sliding

AbstractShort-term variations in ice-flow velocity were obtained at intervals of a few hours and a few days in the ablation area of Glaciar Soler, Patagonia, Chile, in November 1985. A maximum flow rate was measured at about four times the minimum value. A good correlation, with a time lag of 7.5 h, was found between the ice-flow velocity in the lower reaches and the amount of water discharge from the glacier terminus. It was concluded, therefore, that the velocity variations should have resulted from the variations in basal sliding velocity which is strongly controlled by the subglacial water pressure.

scholarly journals Surging Glaciers—The Dilemma Continues

1979 ◽  
Vol 24 (90) ◽  
pp. 502-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. Meier
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Sliding Velocity ◽  
Recent Interest ◽  
Normal Behavior ◽  
Rapid Flow ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Glacier Flow ◽  
Basal Shear

AbstractA glacier surge, according to most definitions, is a short-lived phase of unusually rapid glacier flow, after which the glacier returns to more normal behavior, with the surge–non-surge phases recurring on a regular or periodic basis. Recent interest is largely directed toward analyzing the effect of water at the bed on the periodic change in flow regime and on the rapid flow during a surge phase. For instance, study of a local depression of basal shear stress that dependson a “friction lubrication factor” which becomes important as the ice velocity increases, is one promising phenomenological approach. An important physical approach focuses on a water “collection zone” that occurs where and when the longitudinal pressure gradient in the subglacial wtaer film approaches zero. The data necessary for properly verifying these and other similar theories do not yet exist. Computer modeling of rapidly-surging glaciers based on a “friction lubrication factor” has been quite successful in duplicating their major features. Once rapid movement (102–103m a–1) has begun, sufficient water is generated at the bed, from ice melted by heat dissipated in sliding, to produce some decoupling of the glacier from its bed and to maintain the surge, but only if this water is not lost by rapid drainage. Some glaciers exhibit periodic pulses in which the basal sliding velocity during the fastest part of the pulses appears to be in the range for “normal” glaciers (<102m a–1). Some evidence suggests a continuum of behavior from steady (normal) glaciers through these “mini-surges” to classic surges. This continuum and the “mini-surges” seem to be difficult to explain quantitatively by existing theories. A few glaciers flow continuously at surging speeds (>103m a–1) in certain reaches. The up-glacier transition reaches show speeds decreasing to “nonrmal” with no indication of intermediate surging regime, but the down-glacier transition reaches may be areas where surges are triggered.

scholarly journals Surging Glaciers—The Dilemma Continues

1979 ◽  
Vol 24 (90) ◽  
pp. 502-503
Author(s):  
M. F. Meier
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Sliding Velocity ◽  
Recent Interest ◽  
Normal Behavior ◽  
Rapid Flow ◽  
Basal Sliding ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Glacier Flow ◽  
Basal Shear

AbstractA glacier surge, according to most definitions, is a short-lived phase of unusually rapid glacier flow, after which the glacier returns to more normal behavior, with the surge–non-surge phases recurring on a regular or periodic basis. Recent interest is largely directed toward analyzing the effect of water at the bed on the periodic change in flow regime and on the rapid flow during a surge phase. For instance, study of a local depression of basal shear stress that dependson a “friction lubrication factor” which becomes important as the ice velocity increases, is one promising phenomenological approach. An important physical approach focuses on a water “collection zone” that occurs where and when the longitudinal pressure gradient in the subglacial wtaer film approaches zero. The data necessary for properly verifying these and other similar theories do not yet exist. Computer modeling of rapidly-surging glaciers based on a “friction lubrication factor” has been quite successful in duplicating their major features. Once rapid movement (102–103 m a–1) has begun, sufficient water is generated at the bed, from ice melted by heat dissipated in sliding, to produce some decoupling of the glacier from its bed and to maintain the surge, but only if this water is not lost by rapid drainage. Some glaciers exhibit periodic pulses in which the basal sliding velocity during the fastest part of the pulses appears to be in the range for “normal” glaciers (<102 m a–1). Some evidence suggests a continuum of behavior from steady (normal) glaciers through these “mini-surges” to classic surges. This continuum and the “mini-surges” seem to be difficult to explain quantitatively by existing theories. A few glaciers flow continuously at surging speeds (>103 m a–1) in certain reaches. The up-glacier transition reaches show speeds decreasing to “nonrmal” with no indication of intermediate surging regime, but the down-glacier transition reaches may be areas where surges are triggered.

scholarly journals Short-term variations in flow velocity of Glaciar Soler, Patagonia, Chile

1992 ◽  
Vol 38 (128) ◽  
pp. 152-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renji Naruse ◽  
Hiroshi Fukami ◽  
Masamu Aniya
Keyword(s):  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Sliding Velocity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Glacier Terminus ◽  
Basal Sliding

AbstractShort-term variations in ice-flow velocity were obtained at intervals of a few hours and a few days in the ablation area of Glaciar Soler, Patagonia, Chile, in November 1985. A maximum flow rate was measured at about four times the minimum value. A good correlation, with a time lag of 7.5 h, was found between the ice-flow velocity in the lower reaches and the amount of water discharge from the glacier terminus. It was concluded, therefore, that the velocity variations should have resulted from the variations in basal sliding velocity which is strongly controlled by the subglacial water pressure.

scholarly journals Enhancement factors for grounded ice and ice shelves inferred from an anisotropic ice-flow model

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (199) ◽  
pp. 805-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Ma ◽  
Olivier Gagliardini ◽  
Catherine Ritz ◽  
Fabien Gillet-Chaulet ◽  
Gaël Durand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Actual State ◽  
Polar Ice ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Ice Shelves ◽  
State Of Stress ◽  
Asymptotic Models ◽  
Enhancement Factors ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Stress And Strain Rate

AbstractPolar ice is known to be one of the most anisotropic natural materials. For a given fabric the polycrystal viscous response is strongly dependent on the actual state of stress and strain rate. Within an ice sheet, grounded-ice parts and ice shelves have completely different stress regimes, so one should expect completely different impacts of ice anisotropy on the flow. The aim of this work is to quantify, through the concept of enhancement factors, the influence of ice anisotropy on the flow of grounded ice and ice shelves. For this purpose, a full-Stokes anisotropic marine ice-sheet flowline model is used to compare isotropic and anisotropic diagnostic velocity fields on a fixed geometry. From these full-Stokes results, we propose a definition of enhancement factors for grounded ice and ice shelves, coherent with the asymptotic models used for these regions. We then estimate realistic values for the enhancement factors induced by ice anisotropy for grounded ice and ice shelves.

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