Research on the Tunnel Excavated In Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Tianshan Glaciological Station, China

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Maohuan, Huang, Zhongxiang, Wang
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1987
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000005402; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000005402

Abstract A tunnel was excavated in Urumqi Glacier No. 1, at the Tianshan Glaciological Station. Ice temperature, ice displacement, deformation, and basal sliding, etc. were observed at regular intervals. It is shown that the temperature near the glacier bed is close to the melting point and that the largest proportion of the overall glacier motion is within the lowermost ice layers. The glacier ice is in a state of compression. The maximum shear strain increases towards the entrance of the tunnel, corresponding to the change in slope of the ice surface, and also towards the bedrock.