Measurements of ice velocity

Markers used for velocity measurements consisted of either stakes drilled into the ice or casings in bore holes. Locations of all stakes and bore holes are shown in Figure 1. Seasonal velocity data were not obtained for all these markers. Each bore hole is designated by its depth in metres. All bore holes shown except hole 116 reached the bed of the glacier. The aim was to place the longitudinal line of stakes along the centre line (line of maximum velocity). Subsequent measurements showed that the longitudinal line was about 50 m. to the north-west of the centre line.

Fig. 1.

Contour map of lower hart of Athabasca Glacier showing .stakes (open circles) and bore holes (solid circles)

Velocities were obtained from periodic determinations of the position of each marker by intersection from stations on bedrock. Details of the method and an assessment of the accuracy of the results have been given previously (Reference Paterson and SavagePaterson and Savage, 1963[a]). The majority of the measurements reported here were made between 1959 and 1961.

A difficulty arises from the fact that flow is compressive in that part of the glacier where measurements were made. Thus, as a marker moves down the glacier (relative to the bed), its velocity decreases irrespective of any seasonal change in velocity. However, the longitudinal strain-rate at the surface at points on the centre line could be calculated from differences in velocity between adjacent markers. Surface strain-rates at each bore hole were measured using a diamond-shaped array of stakes. Measurements of velocity of a given marker, made at different times, could thus be reduced to a common point (relative to the glacier bed). This has been done for all data in this paper. Any velocity differences thus represent genuine seasonal effects.

Stream flow records

Since 1948, the Water Resources Branch, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, has maintained a gauging station on the Sunwapta River at its exit from the lake at the terminus of the glacier. The lake receives run-off from the Athabasca Glacier, its two tributary glaciers, and a glacier on the north side of Mount Athabasca.

The contribution which ablation of ice from the Athabasca Glacier makes to the total run-off can be estimated. Total ablation for 1960 was measured at 12 stakes between the foot of the lowest ice fall and the terminus. The mean was 3.9 m. (water equivalent) with no systematic variation with position. Ablation was not measured in the upper part of the ablation area. A variation, linear with elevation, from 3.9 m. at the foot of the lowest ice fall to zero at the equilibrium line was assumed. The areas of glacier surface lying between different elevations have been determined by Reference KonecnyKonecny (1964, p. 77). The total run-off from ablation of ice at the glacier surface could thus be calculated. The part of the ablation area where measurements were not made comprised only 30 per cent of the total. Deviations from the assumed linear decrease of ablation with elevation will thus have only a minor effect on the calculated run-off. Melting of ice at the glacier bed and calving of ice into the terminal lake are other sources of ablation. Calculations showed that these were negligible compared with ablation at the surface.

The calculated value of total run-off from ablation of ice in 1960 was 0.014 km.³. Total run-off measured at the gauging station was 0.035 km.³. Thus, in 1960, melting of ice from the Athabasca Glacier contributed roughly ₄₀ per cent of the total run-off. It therefore seems reasonable to use recorded variations in stream flow as an indication of variations in run-off from the glacier. In subsequent discussion we are interested, not in total run-off from the glacier, but in the amount of water flowing at the glacier bed. This last quantity cannot be measured. We therefore assume that it is positively correlated with the amount of run-off. In other words, periods of high run-off, as indicated by stream flow records, are assumed to be periods when more than the average amount of water flows at the glacier bed. Some of the conclusions drawn in subsequent sections of this paper rest on this plausible but unproven assumption.

Meteorological records

In a later section we shall attempt to correlate long-period changes in velocity of the glacier with climatic trends. The weather stations nearest to the glacier are at Lake Louise and Banff, which are 110 km. and 155 km. to the south-east, and at Jasper, 90 km. to the north-west. Records from Banff cover a longer period than the others and have been used in previous studies of fluctuations of the terminus of the glacier (Reference HeusserHeusser, 1956; Reference CollierCollier, 1958). Records from Banff have therefore been used here also, even although the other stations are nearer the glacier.

For the period 1940–61, mean annual air temperatures at the three stations are very highly correlated (r = 0.8 to 0.9) and the correlation between annual precipitation at Banff and Lake Louise is significant at the one per cent level. There is no significant correlation between annual precipitation at Jasper and that at the other two stations. However, the climatic trend which is important to the subsequent discussion (increased precipitation between 1938 and 1949) is shown at all three stations. Use of records from one of the other stations would not therefore have changed the conclusions.

Seasonal variations of velocity

The positions of twelve markers were determined in August and November 1960 and in April 1961. The positions of three of the markers were determined again in July 1961. The corresponding velocities and the measured annual velocities are given in Table 1. Velocities for the periods August to November and November to April do not differ significantly, but are significantly (4 to 13 per cent) less than annual velocities. Mean velocities for the period April to July are about 15 per cent greater than annual velocities.

Table 1

Measured Surface Velocity on Athabasca Glacier

In Table II, velocities for the period August to April are expressed as fractions of annual velocities. Markers are listed in order down the glacier. In general the difference between winter and annual velocity increases with distance down glacier. The last point, hole 194, is an exception. This may perhaps be related to the fact that the glacier becomes narrower at this point. Elliston ([Union Géodésique et Géophysique Internationale], 1963, p. 65–66) has noted this phenomenon on the Gornergletscher.

Table II

Winter Velocity as Percentage of Annual Velocity

It is well known that the velocity of a glacier is very sensitive to changes in its thickness. Accumulation and ablation are thus possible causes of seasonal changes in velocity. The annual accumulation on the Athabasca Glacier is not known but it is unlikely that it exceeds the equivalent of 1 m. of ice. (Mean annual precipitation at Banff is approximately 0.5 m., water equivalent.) Annual ablation for the year in question was 4.2 m. of ice with no significant variation over the area covered by the markers listed in Tables I and II. In this area, ice thickness on the centre line ranges from 200 m. to 320 m. with a mean of about 275 m. Thus the glacier thickness varies by about 2 per cent during the year.

The shear strain-rate in ice is proportional to the fourth power of the shear stress, and the velocity of flow should be proportional to the fifth power of ice thickness (Reference NyeNye, 1952, p. 84). Changes of thickness might therefore explain seasonal velocity variations of up to 10 per cent in the present case. The variations listed in Table II are of this order. However the pattern of variation through the year shown in Table I is unexpected. The thickness of the glacier is at a minimum at the end of August and at a maximum in March. Our data show no difference in velocity between the periods August to November and November to April. The greatest velocity is attained sometime between April and July, when thickness has decreased from its maximum value. Moreover, the mean velocity in this period is 15 per cent greater than annual velocity and this change is too large to be the result of a change of thickness. It is also doubtful whether change of thickness could account for the decrease with distance down-glacier of the ratios in Table II. We conclude that changes of ice thickness cannot account for the observed seasonal changes of velocity.

Variations in the velocity with which the glacier slides on its bed, produced by variations in the amount of water available at the bed for lubrication, provide a more reasonable explanation. It might be expected that when ablation starts in April or May melt water will penetrate to the glacier bed in increasing quantities (by draining under the ice from the sides for example). This might produce the increase in velocity observed at this time of year. During the winter, when there is no melt water at the surface, one might expect the velocity to be more or less constant and smaller, as observed. Measurements of velocity made over shorter periods of time enable us to examine this hypothesis in more detail.

Weekly variations of velocity

Velocities over the periods 21 July to 15 August and 15 August to 1 September were measured for 41 markers. At 39 of them the velocity was significantly greater in the first period than in the second. At one marker (g2) the two velocities were equal. At one marker (l39) the velocity in the second period was the greater. The anomalous behaviour of l39 might be explained by its location some 40 m. from the terminal ice cliff; its velocity was probably controlled by calving of ice into the lake. The ratio of the two velocities at each marker had a mean of 1.3 and a maximum (at d8) of 1.8. No systematic variation with distance down-glacier was apparent.

Such velocities, measured over the periods of two or three weeks, show much greater fluctuations from period to period than do velocities measured over longer intervals of time. This fact has been noted previously by various authors. It is not merely a reflection of greater experimental errors in measurements made over shorter intervals of time.

These variations in velocity are much too great to be explained by the slight decrease in ice thickness due to ablation. The mean daily discharges of the stream draining the terminal lake were 5.01 m.³/sec. and 2.05 m.³/sec. in the two periods. Thus it is quite likely that more water was flowing at the glacier bed in the first period than in the second, and that the higher observed velocity represents a higher velocity of sliding at the bed.

Velocities over the periods 24 to 31 July, 31 July to 7 August, and 7 to 14 August were measured for 10 markers. Of these, 7 were in a transverse line (line D) and 3 were bore holes (holes 314, 322, 116) at distances up to 0.5 km. up-glacier from the line. Locations are shown in Figure 1. Velocities are given in Table III. Velocities in the first week were considerably greater than those in the other two (a factor of roughly 1.6). Velocities in the second and third weeks did not differ significantly.

Table III

Weekly Surface Velocities on Athabasca Glacier

Mean daily stream discharges for each week are given in the first column of Table IV. No correlation with velocity is apparent. However, it is possible that there is some delay between water flowing at the bed of the glacier and its being recorded at the gauge. Succeeding columns in Table V show mean daily discharges for periods of one week starting 3, 4, 6 and 9 days after the days on which positions of the markers were surveyed. The discharge patterns for delays of 3 or 4 days are similar to the velocity patterns. They show a relatively high value in the first week and no appreciable difference between the second and third weeks.

Table IV

Mean Daily Stream Discharge with Delay Times for the Weeks in Table III

These observations may be relevant to Weertman’s theory concerning short-period changes in the velocity of a glacier (Reference WeertmanWeertman, 1962). Weertman postulates that some of the water at the bed of a glacier flows relatively slowly in the form of a thin sheet. He suggests that short-period changes in velocity are caused by changes in the thickness of this sheet. A layer of increased thickness of water will be propagated as a kinematic wave. According to Weertman’s calculations, 0.8 km./day is a reasonable velocity for such a wave. On the Athabasca Glacier, the transverse line of markers where velocity was measured is 2.4 km. from the terminus. The bore holes listed in Table IV are between 2.7 and 2.9 km. from the terminus. Thus on Weertman’s theory, the delay between an observation of increased velocity and increased discharge should be 3 or 4 days, as observed.

These observations thus lend some support to Weertman’s ideas. It must be emphasized however that this evidence is indirect. We have assumed that the volume of water flowing at the glacier bed is positively correlated with the measured discharge. Moreover, a demonstration that the glacier velocity is positively correlated with the volume of water flowing at the bed is not in itself any evidence of a causal relationship.

It will be recalled that no delay was introduced in the previous correlation between discharge and velocities measured over periods of 2 and 3 weeks. However, delays of 3 or 4 days are less important for the longer period. Also, the markers in this earlier discussion were distributed over a distance of 3.8 km. Thus no single delay time would have been appropriate.

Annual variations in velocity

The positions of five bore holes have been determined each July since 1959 or, in two cases, 1960. Velocities are given in Table V. Except for hole 209, which showed small changes from year to year, there were no significant changes of annual velocity between 1959 and 1962. No explanation is suggested for the anomalous behaviour of hole 209.

Table V

Annual Surface Velocities on Athabasca Glacier

The Water Resources Branch, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, have measured velocity annually or biennially since 1945. Results have been given by Reference DavisDavis (1962) and are quoted in Table VI. The velocity given is the mean velocity of a line of plaques extending across the glacier about 300 m. from the present terminus (near l36 in Figure 1). A new plaque line was established each year. All velocities therefore refer to the same location relative to the glacier bed. Velocities remained constant from 1948 to _1954, increased steadily until 1958, and remained more or less constant at the new value (about 1.35 times the old) thereafter. The Water Resources Branch also measured, by levelling, the transverse profile of the glacier surface at the line of plaques. Between 1947, when the first measurements were made, and 1952 the level in the central part of the profile decreased with each successive measurement. In 1954 the surface returned to about its 1949 level. Levels in 1956 and 1958 were approximately the same as in 1952. The level decreased in 1960 and again in 1962; the level in 1962 being approximately 11 m. below that in 1947. The accuracy of the levelling is not stated, but the main source of error probably arises from the fact that the measurements were made in August which is generally before the end of the ablation season. Thus at least some of the measured variations may merely reflect the fact that ablation was more advanced by the date of measurement in some years than in others. One must be cautious about interpreting these data as an indication of significant changes of thickness of the glacier during these years. It is not known how the surface slope varied.

Table VI

Mean Velocities of Plaque Line across Athabasca Glacier and Total Run-off

Total run-off, as measured at the gauging station, is also listed in Table VI. The velocity measurements were generally made in early August. Thus each run-off value has been taken for the period starting on 1 August and ending on 31 July two years later. There is no correlation between run-off and the velocities listed in Table V and VI. This suggests that, while water at the glacier bed may produce variations of velocity during the year, longer-term variations in velocity must have some other cause. These variations may represent the passage down the glacier of a kinematic wave resulting from a climatic change.

Weather data from Banff (ten-year running means of annual precipitation and of mean annual air temperature) have been reviewed by Reference HeusserHeusser (1956, p. 268) and Reference CollierCollier (1958). Precipitation attained a maximum in 1911. The record shows oscillations thereafter, but the general trend was a decrease to a minimum reached in 1938. Precipitation then increased steadily to a maximum in 1949. The increase was 11.2 cm., or 25 per cent of the long-term mean, in 11 yr. Precipitation has decreased since 1950. Mean annual air temperature was at a minimum in 1913 and increased, with fluctuations, to a maximum which was maintained from 1935 to 1938. Temperature decreased steadily from 1938 to 1946, the total fall being 1.2° C. Temperatures remained near this low value until 1952, and have increased since then.

The most striking trend is that between 1938 and about 1950 when precipitation increased by 25 per cent and mean annual air temperature dropped by 1.2° C. Reference CollierCollier (1958) has predicted that this trend would eventually produce an advance of glaciers in the Canadian Rockies. This climatic change would favour increased accumulation and decreased ablation and one would expect that a wave of increased flow would pass down the glacier. It is suggested that this is the cause of the variations in velocity listed in Table VI. Calculation of the time taken by the wave to reach the terminus supports this idea.

Kinematic waves are expected to travel with velocities of three or four times the ice velocity (Reference WeertmanWeertman, 1958; Reference NyeNye, 1960). From measured velocities of markers l36 to l39 we can calculate that ice takes about 17 yr. to travel from l36 to the terminus. A kinematic wave should therefore travel there in 4 to 6 yr. The increase in velocity was first observed in 1956. The wave should thus have reached the terminus about 1960. This is confirmed by the fact that the terminus was effectively stationary between 1960 and 1962 (Reference DavisDavis, 1962). This is the first break in a recession of the glacier which has certainly been maintained since 1945 (Reference DavisDavis, 1962) and possibly since 1841 (Reference HeusserHeusser, 1956, p. 282). It remains to be seen whether the increase in flow is large enough to cause an advance of the glacier or whether it will merely produce a temporary halt in the retreat.

This climatic change at Banff is similar to one in the Pacific North-West discussed by Reference HubleyHubley (1956). Hubley used meteorological data from Tatoosh Island which is on the coast some 720 km. west-south-west of Banff. (Hubley used as ordinate the last year of each ten-year period; Heusser used the middle point. Dates in the present discussion all refer to the middle point.) The data have been extended to 1959 by Reference LaChapelleLaChapelle (1960). For the period 1908–54, the correlations between ten-year running means of annual precipitation and mean annual air temperature at Tatoosh Island and Banff are 0.50 (for precipitation) and 0.85 (for temperature). Both values are significant at the one per cent level. Between 1939 and 1947 annual precipitation at Tatoosh Island increased by about 38cm. or 20 per cent of the long-term mean. Between 1938 and 1952 mean annual air temperature decreased by 0.9° C. The first observed effect of this climatic change on glaciers in the Pacific North-West was a thickening of the Nisqually Glacier near the equilibrium line in 1945. By 1955, 50 out of 73 glaciers observed in the area were advancing (Reference HubleyHubley, 1956).

These observations illustrate the stronger and more rapid response of small glaciers in a maritime environment, compared with the response of a larger glacier further inland such as the Athabasca Glacier.