Influence of geometrical boundary conditions on the estimation of rheological parameters

• Main Authors: Testut, L., Tabacco, I. E., Bianchi, C., Rémy, F.
• Other Authors: Testut, L.; UMR5566, Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale, CNES-CNRS, Toulouse Cedex 31055, France, Tabacco, I. E.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Milano, I-20129 Milan, Italy, Bianchi, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Rémy, F.; UMR5566, Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale, CNES-CNRS, Toulouse Cedex 31055, France, UMR5566, Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale, CNES-CNRS, Toulouse Cedex 31055, France, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Milano, I-20129 Milan, Italy, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: International Glaciological Society 2000
• Subjects: Ice sheet; Mass balance; Bedrock-topography; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.03. Geomorphology; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.04. Ice; 02. Cryosphere::02.02. Glaciers::02.02.05. Ice dynamics; East Antarctica; Annals of Glaciology; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/4179

Improved knowledge of geometrical boundary conditions, such as bedrock geometry and surface topography, can contribute significantly to glaciological studies including ice-sheet-flow modelling. Precise thickness and altimetric data allow an estimation of ice-flow direction, the balance velocity and the basal shear stress. These parameters are calculated along a 1160 km profile in East Antarctica using a relationship between shear stress, basal temperature, the Glen flow exponent and a parameter related to strain rate. Strong variations of the flow-law parameters and basal conditions are found to play a major role in the ice-flow pattern. Sliding, anisotropy and longitudinal stress strongly perturb the validity of the law, but their signature can be identified. Published 102-106 3.8. Geofisica per l'ambiente JCR Journal reserved