Tectonic control of subglacial lakes and ice sheet stability

• Main Authors: Robin E. Bell, Michael Studinger, Carol A. Finn
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.518.3890; http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1047/ea/of2007-1047ea040.pdf

Summary The identification of large dynamic subglacial lakes beneath the Antarctic ice sheets and at the onset of a major ice stream indicates that subglacial hydrology and subglacial lakes may play an important role in ice sheet stability. Here we present evidence that the large lakes most likely to influence ice sheet dynamics are coincident with major tectonic boundaries. By providing the basins that capture subglacial water, the continental scale tectonic structure serves as a basic template for the formation of subglacial lakes. The distribution of sedimentary basins and the variability in geothermal heat flux have also been advanced as mechanisms for tectonic processes to influence ice sheet stability through the development of ice streams. Large subglacial lakes whose distribution is controlled to a large extent by the tectonic framework provide a new mechanism for tectonic control on ice sheet dynamics.