Abstract
Airborne radio-echo sounding investigations in the upper reaches of Bailey ice Stream and Slessor Glacier, Coats Land, East Antarctica, have shown that enhanced-flow tributaries are associated with well-defined areas of relatively thicker ice, and are separated from each other by areas of relatively thinner ice. A numerical modelling study has revealed that while internal ice deformation might account for all the observed flow in inter-tributary areas and the majority in the Slessor tributaries, a significant proportion of the flow of Bailey tributary is attributable to basal motion. Further, investigations of depth-corrected basal reflection power indicate that the bed underlying both Bailey and Slessor enhanced-flow tributaries is significantly smoother than in the slower-moving inter-tributary areas. It is thus proposed that enhanced motion within Bailey tributary (and also perhaps Slessor) may be facilitated by a reduction in basal roughness, caused by the accumulation of water and/or sediments within subglacial valleys, or by the erosion and smoothing of bed obstacles.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 366-372 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Annals of glaciology |
| Volume | 39 |
| Publication status | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- WEST ANTARCTICA
- SUBGLACIAL GEOLOGY
- SHEET
- BENEATH
- SURFACES
- REVEAL
- REGION
- ECHOES
- DOME