Ice-flow velocities on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, are stable over decadal timescales

Surface ice-flow velocities measured at stakes on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, covering a period of similar to 25 years are analysed for evidence of temporal variations in flow. No indications of significant long-term changes in flow are found. Earlier observations have shown significant tid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Gudmundsson, G.H., Jenkins, A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: International Glaciological Society 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10977/
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/igsoc/jog/2009/00000055/00000190/art00013?token=004a1acc59c6d6ccc9405847447b497b6c7a407b6f2c4779217a3375686f23bbc992d95dd0
Description
Summary:Surface ice-flow velocities measured at stakes on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, covering a period of similar to 25 years are analysed for evidence of temporal variations in flow. No indications of significant long-term changes in flow are found. Earlier observations have shown significant tidally related variations in flow speed. We conclude that temporal variability on Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica, appears limited to tidal periods of days and weeks, and weaker interannual variation, possibly related to long-period tides or seasonal effects, while long-term (decadal) changes in flow speed are either absent or smaller than similar to 0.1 % a(-1).