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A force-balance study of ice flow and basal conditions of Jutulstraumen, Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Øyvind Armand Høydal*
Affiliation:
Norsk Polarinstitutt Majorstua, N-0301 Oslo, Norway
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Abstract

Stresses and velocities at depth are calculated across Jutulstraumen, an ice stream in Dronning Maud Land, draining about 1% of the Antarctic ice sheet. The force-balance study is based on data from kinematic GPS measurements on three strain nets, each consisting of 3 × 3 stakes. The maximum measured velocity is 443 m a−1 and the velocity variation over short distances is large compared with studied ice streams in West Antarctica. The surface topography together with the measured velocities across the profile indicate that the bottom topography has a great influence on the flow direction, even where the ice thickness is more than 2000 m. The basal shear stresses are calculated as 180, 227 and 146 kPa in the three Strain nets, while the corresponding driving stresses are 180, 122 and 111 kPa (±5%). The heat produced by sliding and internal deformation is sufficient to keep the base at the pressure-melting point. The annual basal melting is estimated to be about 60 mm. Investigations on the effect of temperature softening show that the flow parameter’s influence on the effective strain rate is more important than the flow parameter’s direct softening in the flow low alone. The mass flow calculated by the force-balance method is between 87 and 96% of pure plug flow and total discharge is calculated to be 13.3 ± 10 km3a-1.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Glaciological Society 1996
Figure 0

Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Jutulstraumen at the zero meridian in Dronning Maud Land (mар from Norsk Polarinstitutt).

Figure 1

Table 1. Absolute velocity, normal velocity and ice flux.

Figure 2

Fig. 2. Upper part: relative horizontal movements of the stakes. The longest line represents 443 m a−1. Lower part: relative position of each stake and elevation contours. The numbers refer to stake and velocity data in Table (1).

Figure 3

Table 2. Surface strain rates (a−1) and stresses (kPa).

Figure 4

Fig. 3. The lefthand figure illustrates the local coordinate system used at each strain net. The righthand figure illustrates the surface element spanned by the four nodes. The vertical arrows indicate a positive direction for at each node; horizontal arrows indicate a positive direction for and the half arrows indicate a positive direction at the corners of the shear stress . All of these stresses act on surfaces parallel to the z axis. These surfaces are close to vertical and is later called “vertical shear stress” in Figures 6. 7 and 8. and are the longitudinal deviator stresses.

Figure 5

Fig. 4. The surface profile between Nordre Nashornkalven and Jutulrøra (profile 1).

Figure 6

Fig. 5. Temperature curves for strain nets 1–3. a, calculated temperature; b, average effective strain rate: temperature calculated; c, average effective strain rate: isotherm.

Figure 7

Fig. 6. Strain net No. 1. Velocities and stresses are calculated (1) by using the temperature profile in Figure. 5 and (2) by assuming the ice temperature is constant and equal to −25°C.

Figure 8

Fig. 7. Strain net No. 2. Velocities and stresses are calculated (1) by using the temperature profile in Figure. 5 and (2) by assuming the ice temperature is constant and equal to −25°C.

Figure 9

Fig. 8. Strain net No. 3. Velocities and stresses are calculated (1) by using the temperature profile in Figure. 5 and (2) by assuming the ice temperature is constant and equal to −25°C.