data source: i. joughin, jpl g. catania, h. conway, c. raymond and t. scambos * earth and space...
TRANSCRIPT
Data source: I. Joughin, JPL
G. Catania, H. Conway, C. Raymond and T. Scambos*
Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle WA, 98195 *National Snow & Ice Data Center, University of Colorado, Boulder CO, 80309
Many thanks to:
NSF support (OPP #9909518)
Raytheon Polar Services
A. Gades, M. Conway &
E. Waddington
Ungrounded Conditions in the Mouth of Kamb Ice Stream?
Identification of boundaries and terrains
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Kamb Ice Stream
WhillansStreamIce
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Kamb Ice Stream
WhillansStreamIce
Identification of boundaries and terrains
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Identification of boundaries and terrains
Kamb Ice Stream
WhillansStreamIce
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Identification of boundaries and terrains
Kamb Ice Stream
WhillansStreamIce
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Identification of boundaries and terrains
Kamb Ice Stream
WhillansStreamIce
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Identification of boundaries and terrains
Kamb Ice Stream
WhillansStreamIce
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Identification of boundaries and terrains
Kamb Ice Stream
WhillansStreamIce
Terrain on both sides of KIS Diffractors have uniform depth Diffractors are line-type No near-surface diffractors
Flat-ice terrain
Identification of other features
Syncline feature
Ice StreamTerrain
Syncline feature
Syncline amplitude grows with depth. Deep layers are truncated by the bed. Synclines are narrow in width. No change in layer thickness across
dip.
Identification of other features
Flat-iceTerrainIce Stream
Terrain
Localized Basal Melt
Causes of layer downwarping
Localized Basal Melt
Causes of layer downwarping
How long did it melt for?
Localized Basal Melt
Causes of layer downwarping
How long did it melt for?
Melting lasted for ~10-130 years
Localized Basal Melt
Causes of layer downwarping
Melting lasted for ~10-130 years
Short-lived meltingSpatially focussed melting
Deep diffractorsSyncline features wrap around ridges
How long did it melt for?
Ice Stream Margin?
Pros: melting is spatially focussed melting is short-lived
Cons: no explanation of deep line-diffractors synclines wrap around ridges
Localized Basal Melting
Ice Stream Margin?
Pros: melting is spatially focussed melting is short-lived
Cons: no explanation of deep line-diffractors synclines wrap around ridges
Geothermal Source?
Pros: synclines wrap around ridges
Cons: no explanation of deep line-diffractors source must be extremely shallow melting is short-lived
Localized Basal Melting
Ice Stream Margin?
Pros: melting is spatially focussed melting is short-lived
Cons: no explanation of deep line-diffractors synclines wrap around ridges
Geothermal Source?
Pros: synclines wrap around ridges
Cons: no explanation of deep line-diffractors source must be extremely shallow melting is short-lived
Grounding Line Melt?
Pros: explains deep line-diffractors melting is short-lived synclines wrap around ridges
Cons: not currently floating melting is spatially focussed
Localized Basal Melting
When did it float?
Relict Grounding Line Positions
BEDMAP
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
Kamb Ice Stream
Whillans StreamIce not floating now (50-100 m above)
sea level is steady so floatation due to thickness changes
thickness changes indicate it could have grounded ~350 years ago
AccumulationCompression
became floating ~480 years ago
Flow history of Kamb Ice Stream
~700 y.b.p
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
CIR
Wide trunk, fast flowpermits thinning
Flow history of Kamb Ice Stream
~500 y.b.p
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
CIR
Thinning floatationShift in flow direction of WIS
Flow history of Kamb Ice Stream
~450 y.b.p
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
CIR
Ice/water piracy shutdown of SIS
Flow history of Kamb Ice Stream
~350 y.b.p
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
CIR
SIR
Re-advance (b/c of WIS?)Narrowing of KISDestruction of water system?
Flow history of Kamb Ice Stream
~250 y.b.p
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
CIR
SIR
Ice/water piracy shutdown of KIS0
Flow history of Kamb Ice Stream
~150 y.b.p
SipleDome
EngelhardtRidge
CIR
SIR
Stagnation of KISContinued flow in tributaries
Syncline features/flat-ice terrain identified: Strongly downwarped isochrones bound flat-ice terrains Likely caused by basal melting for 130 years Melting is a result of grounding line melt? Associated deep diffractors caused by past floatation events Floating occurred between 500 years ago and ended ~350 years ago
Ice flow history of KIS: Grounding line retreat in the mouth of KIS prior to stoppage Sudden floatation and regrounding could destroy the subglacial drainage network This might permit freezing to occur as upstream water is unable to reach the trunk
SUMMARY: Flow history of Kamb Ice Stream