Report on Problems Relating to the Flow of Glaciers

Borehole inclinometers are standard equipment for field glaciologists and are commonly used for investigating the flow law of ice and for measuring the spatial position of englacial and sub-surface sensors. The recent development, at the University of British Columbia (UBC), of a prototype inclinometer that employs a three-component fluxgate magentometer to obtain a compass bearing has stimulated our interest in borehole inclinometry. Following a review of various approaches to glacier inclinometry, we present a unified theory of data interpretation that can be applied to all inclinometers, discuss the application of the theory to the UBC inclinometer, and discuss the sensitivity of the theory to error in the data.

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The use of borehole inclinometry in determining basal sliding and internal deformation at Haut Glacier d’Arolla, Switzerland

Copland¹,

Harbor²,

Minner³

et al. 1997

A. Glaciology.

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A series of boreholes were drilled with high-pressure hot water across a section of Haut Glacier d’Arolla, Switzerland, in summer 1995. Twenty-three of the boreholes were profiled with a digital inclinometer soon aller drilling, and 14 were re-profiled up to 6 weeks later to determine changes in the longitudinal shape of boreholes with time. In addition to the main surveys, three boreholes were surveyed 14 times each to assess the accuracy and reproducibility of inclinometry measurements. These repeat surveys suggest that caution is needed in the interpretation of short-term borehole displacement measurements, and that the reoccupation of boreholes from one year to the next may be a better way to determine patterns of internal deformation and basal sliding. The annual scale may also have advantages in providing more long-term insight into glaciological processes than short term (single season) measurements.

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Report on Problems Relating to the Flow of Glaciers

Abstract: In order to guide the Committee in formulating a detailed programme and in devising suitable methods of research, Dr. Perutz has written a report summarizing the present state of the problems of Glacier Physics. This summary is published below.

Cited by 10 publications

References 4 publications

Remarks on the History of Glacier Research and the Flow Law of Ice

Remarks on the History of Glacier Research and the Flow Law of Ice

Interpretation of borehole-inclinometer data: a general theory applied to a new instrument

The use of borehole inclinometry in determining basal sliding and internal deformation at Haut Glacier d’Arolla, Switzerland

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