A Model of a Surging Glacier

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Brückl, E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1972
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000022206; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000022206

Abstract As the cause of a surge we assume a sudden improvement of the sliding conditions at the glacier bed. This improvement has the same effect on the behaviour of the glacier as an equivalent variation of the annual balance. We are therefore able to apply Nye’s (1963) theory of the advance and retreat of glaciers to our problem. A simple glacier model discussed in this theory shows as a consequence of an improvement of the sliding conditions, an additional discharge of ice, which can be separated in two phases. The first phase of strong motion yields a transport of ice from the upper to the lower part of the glacier. The ice essentially remains within the previous limits of the glacier. The sequence of motion during this phase corresponds to a surge. The second phase of motion is essentially slower. During this phase the ice accumulated in the lower part of the glacier flows beyond the previous limits, till the whole surface level is lowered.