Lelandais, T., Ravier, E., Pochat, S. et al. (4 more authors) (2018) Modelled subglacial floods and tunnel valleys control the life cycle of transitory ice streams. Cryosphere , 12 (8). pp. 2759-2772. ISSN 1994-0416
Abstract
Ice streams are corridors of fast-flowing ice that control mass transfers from continental ice sheets to oceans. Their flow speeds are known to accelerate and decelerate, their activity can switch on and off, and even their locations can shift entirely. Our analogue physical experiments reveal that a life cycle incorporating evolving subglacial meltwater routing and bed erosion can govern this complex transitory behaviour. The modelled ice streams switch on and accelerate when subglacial water pockets drain as marginal outburst floods (basal decoupling). Then they decelerate when the lubricating water drainage system spontaneously organizes itself into channels that create tunnel valleys (partial basal recoupling). The ice streams surge or jump in location when these water drainage systems maintain low discharge but they ultimately switch off when tunnel valleys have expanded to develop efficient drainage systems. Beyond reconciling previously disconnected observations of modern and ancient ice streams into a single life cycle, the modelling suggests that tunnel valley development may be crucial in stabilizing portions of ice sheets during periods of climate change.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Geography (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 09 Oct 2018 14:47 |
Last Modified: | 18 Mar 2019 09:31 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2759-2018 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | European Geosciences Union |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.5194/tc-12-2759-2018 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:136704 |