A Flow Model and a Time Scale for the Ice Core from Camp Century, Greenland

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Dansgaard, W., Johnsen, S. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1969
• Subjects: Greenland; ice core; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000031208; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000031208

A flow model is described for the Camp Century area in Greenland. The horizontal velocity profile along the core is assumed to be uniform from the surface down to y = 400 m above the bottom. Below this level, the horizontal velocity v x , is assumed to decrease proportionally to y . Furthermore, at a given y , v x is assumed to be proportional to the distance x from the ice divide. The resulting vertical strain-rate under steady-state conditions gives the age of the ice as a function of y . The flow model has explained the measured temperature profile, and the time scale has been verified by comparison between observed stable isotope variations and past climatic changes (at least 70 000 years back in time) estimated by other methods.