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Extensive storage of basal meltwater in the onset region of a major West Antarctic ice stream
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 13:49 authored by Peters, LE, Anandakrishnan, S, Alley, RB, Smith, AMA major meltwater body exists beneath a tributary of Bindschadler Ice Stream, West Antarctica, in a region where subglacial lakes have not been mapped but near where rapid vertical motion of the ice sheet surface has suggested shifting of a subglacial water body. The water is trapped by a local reversal in ice-air surface slope arising from ice flow over variable basal topography and from the positive feedback of basal lubrication from the trapped water. Strong variations in the water content of the sediments upglacier of the water body arise from a similar process. These results are revealed by a novel application of the amplitude variation with offset (AVO) seismic technique. The existence of such water bodies and of the strong spatial variation in subglacial sediment properties is not captured in current models of subglacial hydrology, lubrication of ice stream motion, and sediment transport.
History
Publication title
GeologyVolume
35Pagination
251-254ISSN
0091-7613Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Geological Soc AmericaPlace of publication
Inc, Po Box 9140, Boulder, USA, Co, 80301-9140Rights statement
Copyright 2007 Geological Society of AmericaRepository Status
- Restricted