On the temperature gradient in the upper part of cold ice sheets

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Philberth, K., Fédérer, B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1974
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000023479; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000023479

The influence of the surface slope on the temperature profile in the upper part of a cold ice sheet can be described by a function which is independent of the geothermal heat and the heat of friction. This function is calculated for the two-dimensional and the axisymmetric cases. In the two-dimensional case its simplest form is proportional to the horizontal velocity and to the height above bedrock reduced by a constant; another form of this function is approximately proportional to the square of velocity and height.