On the Secular Variation of Ice Flow Velocity at Lewis Glacier, Mount Kenya, Kenya

Abstract Measurements at various epochs in the course of the twentieth century indicate a slowing down of surface ice flow velocity. This is consistent with the numerical modeling of the secular glacier recession, which furthermore shows a gradual upward shift of the regions of highest velocity and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Hastenrath, Stefan, Kruss, Phillip
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1982
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011679
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000011679
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Summary:Abstract Measurements at various epochs in the course of the twentieth century indicate a slowing down of surface ice flow velocity. This is consistent with the numerical modeling of the secular glacier recession, which furthermore shows a gradual upward shift of the regions of highest velocity and mass flux. Crevasse orientation is transverse above, and longitudinal below, the velocity maximum. The secular change in the longitudinal velocity profile seems to affect the crevasse pattern. Net balance in the next five years is a major factor in future changes of the glacier. With this reservation, model calculations for a possible extreme scenario indicate a drastic overall velocity decrease, and a moderate further displacement of the velocity and mass-flux maxima up-glacier, by the mid 1980’s.