Abstract
Glaciers often advance over proglacial sediments, which then may enhance basal motion. For glaciers with abundant meltwater, thermodynamic considerations indicate that the sediment-ice contact in the direction of ice flow tends toward an angle opposed to and somewhat steeper than the surface slope (by slightly more than 50%). A simple model based on this hypothesis yields the extent of over-ridden sediments as a function of sediment thickness and strength, a result that may be useful in guiding additional fieldwork for hypothesis testing. Sediment-floored as well as rock-floored over-deepenings are common features along glacier flow paths and are expected based on theories of glacier erosion, entrainment, transport and deposition.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 135-141 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Annals of Glaciology |
Volume | 36 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2003 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Earth-Surface Processes