Stable isotopes and debris in basal glacier ice, South Georgia, Southern Ocean

• Main Authors: Sugden, David E., Clapperton, Chalmers M., Gemmell, J. Campbell, Knight, Peter G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: International Glaciological Society 1987
• Subjects: Southern Ocean; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/118288/

This paper combines a study of the rock debris and δD/δ 18 O isotopic characteristics of basal ice sequences in three representative glaciers in South Georgia and concludes that the debris and ice has been entrained mainly by basal freezing. The size distribution of the rock debris is typical of crushing and abrasion, and reflects transport at the ice-rock interface. The δD/δ 18 O relationships show that clear ice associated with the debris has accreted through freezing. He white bubbly glacier ice has δD/δ 18 O relationships typical of precipitation which demonstrates an altitudinal effect between glaciers.