Sediment Freeze‐On and Transport Near the Onset of a Fast‐Flowing Glacier in East Antarctica

Abstract

Understanding the material properties and physical conditions of basal ice is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of Antarctic ice‐sheet dynamics. Yet, direct data are sparse and difficult to acquire. Here, we employ ultra‐wideband radar to map high‐backscatter zones near the glacier bed within East Antarctica's Jutulstraumen drainage basin. Our backscatter analysis reveals that the basal ice in an area of ∼10,000 km2 is composed of along‐flow oriented sediment‐laden basal ice units connected to the basal substrate, extending up to several hundred meters thick. Three‐dimensional thermomechanical modeling supports that these units form via basal freeze‐on of subglacial water that originated from further upstream. Our findings suggest that basal freeze‐on, and the entrainment and transport of subglacial material play a significant role in an accurate representation of material, physical, and rheological properties of the Antarctic ice sheet's basal ice, ultimately enhancing the accuracy and reliability of ice‐sheet modeling.