Basal Sliding and Movement Near the Margin of the Glacier Østerdalsisen, Norway

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Theakstone, W. H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1967
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Norway; glacier; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000020116; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000020116

Observations in and around natural caves beneath the glacier Østerdalsisen in 1961 and 1962 indicated that, within the marginal zone, basal sliding played a major part in the movement measured at the upper surface. Sliding rates apparently were influenced by the availability of water at the glacier. The contribution of differential movement within the ice, which was unimportant within the outermost part (about 10 m.) of the glacier, increased with distance from the edge. Movement at the bottom was free from macroscopic irregularities, except where local conditions at the bed influenced the mode of flow. Air temperatures within the innermost parts of subglacial caves were almost constant, below 0°C. Studies indicated that large gaps are unlikely to exist between the glacier and its bed when the ice is more than 50 m. thick.