Variations in Velocity of Athabasca Glacier with Time

Paterson, W. S. B.

doi:10.1017/s0022143000029026

Cited by 30 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Variations of surface velocity in temperate glaciers have been noted by numerous observers, e.g. Meier (1960), Paterson (1964), Hodge (1974), Iken ([1978]), and Iken and others (1983). Few investigations have been made on sub-polar glaciers, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Seasonal Surface-Velocity Variations on a Sub-Polar Glacier in West Greenland

Andreasen¹

1985

J. Glaciol.

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Eight stakes situated in the ablation and the accumulation areas of a sub-polar glacier in West Greenland were surveyed at intervals of 10 days during the summers of 1982 and 1983, The horizontal velocity in both the ablation and the accumulation areas increased distinctly during the short summer season. This indicates that melt water reaches the bed and that the glacier is sliding. It is proposed that melt water produced in the ablation area is forced up-glacier through a subglacial water system. The vertical displacement of stakes showed variations indicating an apparent uplift of the glacier during the summer. However, this is interpreted as the result of seasonal variation in atmospheric refraction.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Seasonal Surface-Velocity Variations on a Sub-Polar Glacier in West Greenland

Andreasen¹

1985

J. Glaciol.

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“…Measurements of these discharges and their time variations are usuall y carried out as part of a hydrological program , which attempts to relate them to water input from ice melt and liquid precipitation and changes in water storage (Tangborn and others, 1975). It is also of interest to examine changes in these discharges in relation to changes in glacier speed (Paterson, 1964;Hodge, 1974), which can give information about the coupling between a glacier'S hydrology and ice-motion dynamics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discharges of Turbid Water during Mini-Surges of Variegated Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A.

1986

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Discharges of water, sediment, and dissolved impurities from Variegated Glacier, Alaska, were monitored in the early summers of 1980 and 1981 during the occurrence of mini-surges. Seasonal trends, weather-related events, and diurnal variations similar to behavior of other temperate glacier streams were found. The principal effect in the stream associated with mini-surge occurrence was a brief discharge of extremely turbid water. The turbidity is assumed to be introduced into the basal hydraulic system by initiation of the fast motion of a mini-surge at a time and location on the upper glacier known from other measurements. The mean water velocity in the hydraulic system over the intervening distance is thereby determined (0.3 ms−1). The mean water velocity, together with the water discharge (≈16 m3 s−1 at the terminus), places constraints on the distribution of water velocity u and total cross-sectional area AT of the flow paths along the glacier base. This leads to the conclusion that within the zone of mini-surge occurrence in its unperturbed state: u is about 0.1 ms−1 or possibly less; AT is about 102 m 2 or possibly more, and it must be divided into a very large number of small passageways, be blocked by constrictions, or both. The total water cross-section corresponds to a layer 0.1–0.2 m thick when spread uniformly over the glacier width. The water velocity is close to or less than the propagation velocity of the mini-surges. Between the zone affected by mini-surges and the stream, a dynamically less active lower section of the glacier is probably underlain by a small number of conduits, in which the water velocity may be very high (≥ 2 m s−1). Water discharge following the mini-surges puts an upper limit on water-storage changes associated with the anomalous ice motion.

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“…Extensive study of the seasonal variation of temperate valley glacier behavior (including Meier, 1960;Paterson, 1965;Hodge, 1974;Iken, 1977;Hooke and others, 1983;Iken and others, 1983;Iken and Bindschadler, 1986;Naruse and others, 1992;Willis, 1995;Harper and others, 2002;Anderson and others, 2004;MacGregor and others, 2005) has led to the following phenomenological understanding. (In this section, citations direct the reader to a few specific examples and are not intended to be comprehensive.)…”

Section: Temporal Evolution Of a 'Typical' Temperate Valley Glaciermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subglacial water pressure is typically high but the volume of water and its spatial extent are limited (Iken, 1981). Proglacial discharge varies diurnally only weakly (Nienow and others, 1998;Mair and others, 2002a;MacGregor and others, 2005), and the glacier slides slowly (Paterson, 1965).…”

Section: Temporal Evolution Of a 'Typical' Temperate Valley Glaciermentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations in the surface velocity of an alpine cirque glacier

et al. 2018

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Following pioneering work in Norway, cirque glaciers have widely been viewed as rigidly rotating bodies. This model is incorrect for basin-filling cirque glaciers, as we have demonstrated at West Washmawapta Glacier, a small glacier in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Here we report observations at the same glacier that assess whether complex temporal variations of flow also occur. For parts of three summers, we measured daily displacements of the glacier surface. In one year, four short-duration speed-up events were recorded. Three of the events occurred during the intervals of warmest weather, when melt was most rapid; the fourth event occurred immediately following heavy rain. We interpret the speed-up events as manifestations of enhanced water inputs to the glacier bed and associated slip lubrication by increased water volumes and pressures. No further speed-ups occurred in the final month of the melt season, despite warm temperatures and several rainstorms; the dominant subglacial water system likely transformed from one of poorly connected cavities to one with an efficient channel network. The seasonal evolution of hydrology and flow resembles behaviors documented at other, larger temperate glaciers and indicates that analyses of cirque erosion cannot rely on simple assumptions about ice dynamics.

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Variations in Velocity of Athabasca Glacier with Time

Cited by 30 publications

References 7 publications

Seasonal Surface-Velocity Variations on a Sub-Polar Glacier in West Greenland

Seasonal Surface-Velocity Variations on a Sub-Polar Glacier in West Greenland

Discharges of Turbid Water during Mini-Surges of Variegated Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A.

Variations in the surface velocity of an alpine cirque glacier

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