Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet
Longitudinal ice-surface structures in the Antarctic Ice Sheet can be traced continuously down-ice for distances of up to 1200 km. A map of the distribution of ~ 3600 of these features, compiled from satellite images, shows that they mirror the location of fast-flowing glaciers and ice streams that...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:50f4ba5bbb214948a63c299dc0cbdf7d 2023-05-15T13:52:23+02:00 Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet N. F. Glasser S. J. A. Jennings M. J. Hambrey B. Hubbard 2015-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-239-2015 https://doaj.org/article/50f4ba5bbb214948a63c299dc0cbdf7d EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/3/239/2015/esurf-3-239-2015.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/2196-6311 https://doaj.org/toc/2196-632X 2196-6311 2196-632X doi:10.5194/esurf-3-239-2015 https://doaj.org/article/50f4ba5bbb214948a63c299dc0cbdf7d Earth Surface Dynamics, Vol 3, Iss 2, Pp 239-249 (2015) Dynamic and structural geology QE500-639.5 article 2015 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-239-2015 2022-12-31T04:47:07Z Longitudinal ice-surface structures in the Antarctic Ice Sheet can be traced continuously down-ice for distances of up to 1200 km. A map of the distribution of ~ 3600 of these features, compiled from satellite images, shows that they mirror the location of fast-flowing glaciers and ice streams that are dominated by basal sliding rates above tens of metres per annum and are strongly guided by subglacial topography. Longitudinal ice-surface structures dominate regions of converging flow, where ice flow is subject to non-coaxial strain and simple shear. They can be traced continuously through crevasse fields and through blue-ice areas, indicating that they represent the surface manifestation of a three-dimensional structure, interpreted as foliation. Flow lines are linear and undeformed for all major flow units described here in the Antarctic Ice Sheet except for the Kamb Ice Stream and the Institute and Möller Ice Stream areas, where areas of flow perturbation are evident. Parcels of ice along individual flow paths on the Lambert Glacier, Recovery Glacier, Byrd Glacier and Pine Island Glacier may reside in the glacier system for ~ 2500 to 18 500 years. Although it is unclear how long it takes for these features to form and decay, we infer that the major ice-flow configuration of the ice sheet may have remained largely unchanged for the last few hundred years, and possibly even longer. This conclusion has implications for our understanding of the long-term landscape evolution of Antarctica, including large-scale patterns of glacial erosion and deposition. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Byrd Glacier Ice Sheet Kamb Ice Stream Lambert Glacier Möller Ice Stream Pine Island Pine Island Glacier Recovery Glacier Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic The Antarctic Byrd Pine Island Glacier ENVELOPE(-101.000,-101.000,-75.000,-75.000) Lambert Glacier ENVELOPE(67.490,67.490,-73.065,-73.065) Byrd Glacier ENVELOPE(160.333,160.333,-80.250,-80.250) Kamb Ice Stream ENVELOPE(-145.000,-145.000,-82.250,-82.250) Recovery Glacier ENVELOPE(-25.500,-25.500,-81.166,-81.166) Möller Ice Stream ENVELOPE(-63.000,-63.000,-82.000,-82.000) Earth Surface Dynamics 3 2 239 249 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Dynamic and structural geology QE500-639.5 |
spellingShingle |
Dynamic and structural geology QE500-639.5 N. F. Glasser S. J. A. Jennings M. J. Hambrey B. Hubbard Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet |
topic_facet |
Dynamic and structural geology QE500-639.5 |
description |
Longitudinal ice-surface structures in the Antarctic Ice Sheet can be traced continuously down-ice for distances of up to 1200 km. A map of the distribution of ~ 3600 of these features, compiled from satellite images, shows that they mirror the location of fast-flowing glaciers and ice streams that are dominated by basal sliding rates above tens of metres per annum and are strongly guided by subglacial topography. Longitudinal ice-surface structures dominate regions of converging flow, where ice flow is subject to non-coaxial strain and simple shear. They can be traced continuously through crevasse fields and through blue-ice areas, indicating that they represent the surface manifestation of a three-dimensional structure, interpreted as foliation. Flow lines are linear and undeformed for all major flow units described here in the Antarctic Ice Sheet except for the Kamb Ice Stream and the Institute and Möller Ice Stream areas, where areas of flow perturbation are evident. Parcels of ice along individual flow paths on the Lambert Glacier, Recovery Glacier, Byrd Glacier and Pine Island Glacier may reside in the glacier system for ~ 2500 to 18 500 years. Although it is unclear how long it takes for these features to form and decay, we infer that the major ice-flow configuration of the ice sheet may have remained largely unchanged for the last few hundred years, and possibly even longer. This conclusion has implications for our understanding of the long-term landscape evolution of Antarctica, including large-scale patterns of glacial erosion and deposition. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
N. F. Glasser S. J. A. Jennings M. J. Hambrey B. Hubbard |
author_facet |
N. F. Glasser S. J. A. Jennings M. J. Hambrey B. Hubbard |
author_sort |
N. F. Glasser |
title |
Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_short |
Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_full |
Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_fullStr |
Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_full_unstemmed |
Origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_sort |
origin and dynamic significance of longitudinal structures ("flow stripes") in the antarctic ice sheet |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-239-2015 https://doaj.org/article/50f4ba5bbb214948a63c299dc0cbdf7d |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-101.000,-101.000,-75.000,-75.000) ENVELOPE(67.490,67.490,-73.065,-73.065) ENVELOPE(160.333,160.333,-80.250,-80.250) ENVELOPE(-145.000,-145.000,-82.250,-82.250) ENVELOPE(-25.500,-25.500,-81.166,-81.166) ENVELOPE(-63.000,-63.000,-82.000,-82.000) |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Byrd Pine Island Glacier Lambert Glacier Byrd Glacier Kamb Ice Stream Recovery Glacier Möller Ice Stream |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Byrd Pine Island Glacier Lambert Glacier Byrd Glacier Kamb Ice Stream Recovery Glacier Möller Ice Stream |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Byrd Glacier Ice Sheet Kamb Ice Stream Lambert Glacier Möller Ice Stream Pine Island Pine Island Glacier Recovery Glacier |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Byrd Glacier Ice Sheet Kamb Ice Stream Lambert Glacier Möller Ice Stream Pine Island Pine Island Glacier Recovery Glacier |
op_source |
Earth Surface Dynamics, Vol 3, Iss 2, Pp 239-249 (2015) |
op_relation |
http://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/3/239/2015/esurf-3-239-2015.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/2196-6311 https://doaj.org/toc/2196-632X 2196-6311 2196-632X doi:10.5194/esurf-3-239-2015 https://doaj.org/article/50f4ba5bbb214948a63c299dc0cbdf7d |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-239-2015 |
container_title |
Earth Surface Dynamics |
container_volume |
3 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
239 |
op_container_end_page |
249 |
_version_ |
1766256667268218880 |