Implications of the form of the Flow Law for Vertical Velocity and Age–Depth Profiles in Polar Ice

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Wolff, E.W., Doake, C.S.M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1986
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Arctic; Canada; Devon Island; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000012053; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000012053

Abstract Two situations are studied in relation to the flow law of polar ice. In each case, models are used with a flow-law exponent of one, and with the more traditional exponent of three. The horizontal velocity profile at Devon Island, Arctic Canada, is better fitted by n = 1; for the vertical velocity profile, n = 3 gives a better fit, but both model profiles fall well within experimental error. For the Camp Century age–depth profile, only n = 1 gives an acceptable fit when temperature is allowed for. The large discrepancy between isothermal and non-isothermal models for n = 3 shows the importance of allowing for temperature in studies of ice-sheet properties.