Dynamic controls on glacier basal motion inferred from surface ice motion

Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface

Volumn 113, Issue 3, 2008, Pages

  Howat, Ian M ^a   Tulaczyk, Slawek ^b   Waddington, Edwin ^c   Björnsson, Helgi ^d  

^a OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON   (United States)

^d UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND   (Iceland)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

BASAL FLOW; DRAINAGE NETWORK; GLACIER DYNAMICS; STRESS FIELD; SUBGLACIAL ENVIRONMENT;

EURASIA; EUROPE; ICELAND; NORTHERN EUROPE; SCANDINAVIA;

EID: 56649111166     PISSN: None     EISSN: 21699011     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1029/2007JF000925     Document Type: Article

References (78)

1. Anderson, R. S., S. P. Anderson, K. R. MacGregor, E. D. Waddington, S. O'Neel, C. A. Riihimaki, and M. G. Loso (2004), Strong feedbacks between hydrology and sliding of a small alpine glacier, J. Geophys. Res., 109, F03005, doi:10.1029/2004JF000120.
2. Amundson, J. M., M. Truffer, and M. P. Luthi (2006), Time-dependent basal stress conditions beneath Black Rapids Glacier, Alaska, USA, inferred from measurements of ice deformation and surface motion, J. Glaciol., 52, 347-357.
3. Bindschadler, R. (1983), The importance of pressurized subglacial water in separation and sliding at the glacier bed, J. Glaciol., 29, 3-19.
4. Björnsson, H. (1996), Scales and rates of glacial sediment removal: A 20 km long, 300 m deep trench created beneath Breidamerkurjokull during the little ice age, Ann. Glaciol., 22, 141-146.
5. Björnsson, H., F. Palsson, and S. Gudmundsson (2001), Joklusarlon at Breidamerkursandur, Vatnajokull, Iceland: 20th century changes and future outlook, Jokull, 50, 1-19.
6. Blake, E. W., U. H. Fisher, and G. K. C. Clarke (1994), Direct measurement of sliding at the glacier bed, J. Glaciol., 40, 595-599.
7. Boulton, G. S., and R. C. A. Hindmarsh (1987), Sediment deformation beneath glaciers - rheology and geological consequences, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 9059-9082.
8. Budd, W. F., P. L. Keage, and N. A. Blundy (1979), Empirical studies of ice sliding, J. Glaciol., 23, 157-170.
9. Fischer, U. H., G. K. C. Clarke, and H. Blatter (1999), Evidence for temporally varying "sticky spots" at the base of Trapridge Glacier, Yukon Territory, Canada, J. Glaciol., 45, 352-360.
10. Fountain, A. G., and J. S. Walder (1998), Water flow through temperate glaciers, Rev. Geophys., 36, 299-328.
11. Fowler, A. C. (1981), A theoretical treatment of the sliding of glaciers in the absence of cavitation, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Ser. A Mat., 298, 637-685.
12. Gagliardini, O., D. Cohen, P. Raback, and T. Zwinger (2006), Finite-element modeling of subglacial cavities and related sliding law, Geophys. Res. Abs., 8, 02668.
13. Glen, J. W. (1975), The Mechanics of Ice, in Cold Regions Science and Engineering, Part II-C2b, edited by T. C. Johnson, 43 pp., CRREL, Hanover, New Hampshire.
14. Gudmundsson, G. H. (2002), Observations of a reversal in vertical and horizontal strain-rate regime during a motion event on Unteraargletscher, Bernese Alps, J. Glaciol., 48, 566-574.
15. Harper, J. T., N. F. Humphrey, and M. C. Greenwood (2002), Basal conditions and glacier motion during the winter/spring transition, Worthington Glacier, Alaska, USA, J. Glaciol, 48, 42-50.
16. Harper, J. T., N. F. Humphrey, W. T. Pfeffer, T. Fudge, and S. O'Neel (2005), Evolution of subg1acial water pressure along a glacier's length, Ann. Glaciol., 40, 31-36.
17. Harper, J. T., N. F. Humphrey, W. T. Pfeffer, and B. Lazar (2007), Two modes of accelerated glacier sliding related to water, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L12503, doi:10.1029/2007GL030233.
18. Hobbs, P. V. (1974), Ice Physics, Clarendon Press, Oxford, U.K.
19. Hooke, R. L. (1998), Principles of Glacier Mechanics, 248 pp., Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, N. J.
20. Hooke, R. L. (2005), Principles of Glacier Mechanics, 2nd ed., 427 pp., Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, New York.
21. Hooke, R. L., P. Calla, P. Holmlund, M. Nilsson, and A. P. Stroeven (1989), A 3-year record of seasonal variations in surface velocity, Storglacieren, Sweden, J. Glaciol., 35, 235-247.
22. Hooke, R. L., B. Hanson, N. R. Iverson, P. Jansson, and U. H. Fischer (1997), Rheology of till beneath Storglaciaren, Sweden, J. Glaciol., 43, 172-179.
23. Howat, I. M., I. Joughin, S. Tulaczyk, and S. Gogineni (2005), Rapid retreat and acceleration of Helheim Glacier, east Greenland, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L22502, doi:10.1029/2005GL024737.
24. Iken, A. (1981), The effect of the subglacial water pressure on the sliding velocity of a glacier in an idealized numerical model, J. Glaciol., 27, 407-421.
25. Iken, A., and R. Bindschadler (1986), Combined measurments of subglacial water pressure and surface velocity of Findelengletcher, Switzerland: Conclusions about drainage system and sliding mechanism, J. Glaciol., 32, 101-119.
26. Iken, A., and M. Truffer (1997), The relationship between subglacial water pressure and velocity of Findelengletscher, Switzerland, during its advance and retreat, J. Glaciol., 43, 328-338.
27. Iken, A., H. Röthlisberger, A. Flotron, and W. Haeberli (1983), The uplift of Unteraargletcher at the beginning of the melt season - a consequence of water storage at the bed?, J. Glaciol., 29, 28-47.
28. Iverson, N. R., P. Jansson, and R. L. Hooke (1994), In-situ measurement of the strength of deforming subglacial till, J. Glaciol., 40, 497-503.
29. Iverson, N. R., T. S. Hooyer, and R. W. Baker (1998), Ring-shear studies of till deformation: Coulomb-plastic behavior and distributed strain in glacier beds, J. Glaciol., 44, 634-642.
30. Iverson, N. R., R. W. Baker, R. L. Hooke, B. Hanson, and P. Jansson (1999), Coupling between a glacier and a soft bed: I. A relation between effective pressure and local sheer stress determined from till elasticity, J. Glaciol., 45, 31-40.
31. Iverson, N. R., D. Cohen, T. S. Hooyer, U. H. Fischer, M. Jackson, P. L. Moore, G. Lappegard, and J. Kohler (2003), Effects of basal debris on glacier flow, Science, 301, 81-84, doi:10.1126/science.1083086.
32. Jansson, P. (1995), Water pressure and basal sliding on Storglaciaren, northern Sweden, J. Glaciol., 41, 232-240.
33. Kamb, B. (1970), Sliding motion of glaciers: Theory and observation, Rev. Geophys., 8, 673-728.
34. Kamb, B. (1987), Glacier surge mechanism based on linked cavity configuration of the basal water conduit system, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 9083-9100.
35. Kamb, B., and H. Engelhardt (1987), Waves of accelerated motion in a glacier approaching surge - the mini-surges of variegated glacier, Alaska, USA, J. Glaciol., 33, 27-46.
36. Kamb, B., H. Engelhardt, M. A. Fahnestock, N. Humphrey, M. Meier, and D. Stone (1994), Mechanical and hydrologic basis for the rapid motion of a large tidewater glacier: 2. Interpretation, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 15,231-15,244.
37. Kavanaugh, J. L., and G. K. C. Clarke (2001), Abrupt glacier motion and reorganization of basal shear stress following the establishment of a connected drainage system, J. Glaciol., 47, 472-480.
38. King, M. (2004), Rigorous GPS data-processing strategies for glaciological applications, J. Glaciol., 50, 601-607.
39. Lliboutry, L. (1968), General theory of subglacial cavitation and sliding of temperate glaciers, J. Glaciol., 7, 21-58.
40. MacGregor, K. R., C. A. Riihimaki, and R. S. Anderson (2005), Spatial and temporal evolution of rapid basal sliding on Bench Glacier, Alaska, USA, J. Glaciol., 51, 49-63.
41. Mair, D., P. Nienow, I. Willis, and M. Sharp (2001), Spatial patterns of glacier motion during a high-velocity event: Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 47, 9-20.
42. Mair, D., P. Nienow, M. J. Sharp, T. Wohlleben, and I. Willis (2002a), Influence of subglacial drainage system evolution on glacier surface motion: Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, J. Geophys. Res., 107(B8), 2175, doi:10.1029/2001JB000514.
43. Mair, D. W. F., M. J. Sharp, and I. C. Willis (2002b), Evidence for basal cavity opening from analysis of surface uplift during a high-velocity event: Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 48, 208-216.
44. Meier, M., S. Lundstrom, D. Stone, B. Kamb, H. Engelhardt, N. Humphrey, W. W. Dunlap, M. Fahnestock, R. M. Krimmel, and R. Walters (1994), Mechanical and hydrologic basis for the rapid motion of a large tidewater glacier: 1. Observations, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 15,219-15,229.
45. Nienow, P., M. Sharp, and I. Willis (1998), Seasonal changes in the morphology of the subglacial drainage system, Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 23, 825-843.
46. Nye, J. F. (1953), The flow law of ice from measurments in glacier tunnels, laboratory experiments and the Jungfraufin borehole experment, Proc. R. Soc. Lon., A219, 477-489.
47. O'Neel, S., W. T. Pfeffer, R. Krimmel, and M. Meier (2005), Evolving force balance at Columbia Glacier, Alaska, during its rapid retreat, J. Geophys. Res., 110, F03012, doi:10.1029/2005JF000292.
48. Paterson, W. S. B. (1994), The Physics of Glaciers, 3rd ed., 481 pp., Elsevier, New York.
49. Pattyn, F. (2002), Transient glacier response with a higher-order numerical ice-flow model, J. Glaciol., 48, 467-477.
50. Price, S. F., R. A. Bindschadler, C. L. Hulbe, and D. D. Blankenship (2002), Force balance along an inland tributary and onset to Ice Stream D West Antarctica, J. Glaciol., 48, 20-30.
51. Raymond, C. (1996), Shear margins in glaciers and ice sheets, J. Glaciol., 42, 90-102.
52. Röthlisberger, H. (1972), Water pressure in intra- and subglacial channels, J. Glaciol., 11, 177-204.
53. Scambos, T. A., M. J. Dutkiewicz, J. C. Wilson, and R. A. Bindschadler (1992), Application of image cross-correlation to the measurement of glacier velocity using satellite image data, Remote Sens. Environ., 42, 177-186.
54. Schoof, C. (2002), Basal perturbations under ice streams: Form drag and surface expression, J. Glaciol., 48, 407-416.
55. Schoof, C. (2003), The effect of basal topography on ice sheet dynamics, Continuum Mech. Therm., 15, 295-307.
56. Schoof, C. (2005), The effect of cavitation on glacier sliding, P. Roy. Soc. A Math. Phys., 461, 609-627.
57. Schoof, C. (2006a), A variational approach to ice steam flow, J. Fluid Mech., 556, 227-251.
58. Schoof, C. (2006b), Variational methods for glacier flow over plastic till, J. Fluid Mech., 555, 299-320.
59. Schweizer, J., and A. Iken (1992), The role of bed separation and friction in sliding over an undeformable bed, J. Glaciol., 38, 77-92.
60. Sugiyama, S., and G. H. Gudmundsson (2003), Diurnal variations in vertical strain observed in a temperate valley glacier, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(2), 1090, doi:10.1029/2002GL016160.
61. Sugiyama, S., and G. H. Gudmundsson (2004), Short-term variations in glacier flow controlled by subglacial water pressure at Lauteraargletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 10, 353-362.
62. Sugiyama, S., G. H. Gudmundsson, and J. Helbing (2003), Numerical investigation of the effects of temporal variations in basal lubrication on englacial strain-rate distribution, Ann. Glaciol., 37, 49-54.
63. Sugiyama, S., A. Bauder, P. Weiss, and M. Funk (2007), Reversal of ice motion during the outburst of a glacier-dammed lake on Gomergletscher, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 53, 172-180.
64. Truffer, M., K. A. Echelmeyer, and W. D. Harrison (2001), Implications of till deformation on glacier dynamics, J. Glaciol., 47, 123-134.
65. Tulaczyk, S., W. B. Kamb, and H. F. Engelhardt (2000a), Basal mechanics of Ice Stream B, West Antarctica: 1. Till mechanics, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 463-481.
66. Tulaczyk, S., W. B. Kamb, and H. F. Engelhardt (2000b), Basal mechanics of Ice Stream B, West Antarctica: 2. Undrained plastic bed model, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 483-494.
67. Tulaczyk, S., B. Kamb, and H. F. Engelhardt (2001), Estimates of effective stress beneath a modern West Antarctic ice stream from till preconsolidation and void ratio, Boreas, 30, 101-114.
68. van der Meer, J. J. M., J. Menzies, and J. Rose (2003), Subglacial till: The deforming glacier bed, Quat. Sci. Rev., 22, 1659-1685.
69. van der Veen, C. J. (1999), Fundamentals of Glacier Dynamics, 462 pp., A.A. Balkema, Roterdam.
70. van der Veen, C. J., and I. M. Whillans (1989a), Force Budget: 1. Theory and numerical methods, J. Glaciol., 35, 53-60.
71. van der Veen, C. J., and I. M. Whillans (1989b), Force Budget: 2. Application to two-dimensional flow along Byrd Station strain network, Antarctica, J. Glaciol., 35, 61-67.
72. van der Veen, C. J., and I. M. Whillans (1993), Location of mechanical controls on Columbia Glacier, Alaska, USA, prior to its rapid retreat, Arctic Alp. Res., 25, 99-105.
73. Vaughan, D. G. (1995), Tidal flexure at ice shelf margins, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 6213-6224.
74. Vieli, A., M. Funk, and H. Blatter (2000), Tidewater glaciers: Frontal flow acceleration and basal sliding, Ann. Glaciol., 31, 217-221.
75. Vieli, A., J. Jania, H. Blatter, and M. Funk (2004), Short-term velocity variations on Hansbreen, a tidewater glacier in Spitsbergen, J. Glaciol., 50, 389-398.
76. Weertman, J. (1957), On the sliding of glaciers, J. Glaciol., 3, 33-38.
77. Weertman, J. (1979), The unsolved general glacier sliding problem, J. Glaciol., 23, 97-115.
78. Zwally, H. J., W. Abdalati, T. Herring, K. Larson, J. Saba, and K. Steffen (2002), Surface melt-induced acceleration of Greenland ice-sheet flow, Science, 297, 218-222.