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Antarctic Ice-Sheet Topography and Surface-Bedrock Relationships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

N.F. McIntyre*
Affiliation:
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University of College London, Holmbury St. Mary, Surrey RH5 6NT, UK
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Abstract

Mapping the topography of the Antarctic ice sheet has confirmed that there is, typically, a decrease in the wavelength and increase in the amplitude of surface undulations with distance from ice divides. This pattern is distorted by converging ice flow in coastal regions and by other variations in subglacial relief, ice velocity, and viscosity. The near-symmetry of undulations indicates the extent of three-dimensional flow over bedrock peaks. Spectral analyses indicate the greater response of the ice sheet to bedrock features with longer wavelengths. This is affected, and in some cases dominated, by the inhomogeneous and non-isothermal nature of the ice sheet.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © International Glaciological Society 1986
Figure 0

Fig. 1.Profiles of upper and lower surfaces of the ice sheet, from aircraft altimetry and radio echo-sounding, respectively. Data are from two, virtually coincident flights down a flowline between Dome Circe and the Wilkes Land coast at 120 °E. Spectra have been produced from 5 segments of bandpass-filtered altimetry of the ice-sheet surface, each 200 km long.

Figure 1

Fig. 2.Frequency histograms of gradients of 1 km slope segments, calculated by fitting a linear regression to lowpass-filtered, altimetric profiles of the ice-sheet surface. Standard deviations (a) are given for each distribution. Gaussian curves have been added for comparative purposes.

Figure 2

Fig. 3.Frequency histograms of lowpass-filtered, ice-sheet surface gradients (derived as in Figure 2), both normal and parallel to flow lines. A: The head of Ice Stream D, in Marie Byrd Land. B: 40 km inland of the Wilkes Land coast at 120°E. Standard deviations (σ) and Gaussian curves are shown for each distribution.

Figure 3

Fig. 4.Relationship between mean ice thickness (from Drewry, 1983) and dominant surface undulation wavelengths, from a variety of data sources. Spectral plots, traverse data, and Landsat data are from McIntyre (1983). Data from Budd and Carter (1971) are from Greenland. The mean of data from Beitzel (1970) is given by one point. λ = 3.3Z (Budd, 1970) is shown by a dashed line and the limits 2Z <λd 10Z (Budd, 1969) by solid lines.

Figure 4

Fig. 5.Frequency-response functions of bandpass-filtered profiles of bedrock, the lowest layer, and the ice-sheet surface, expressed as non-dimensional gain factors against undulation wavelength. Dashed lines show 95% confidence limits. Data are from flowlines downstream of Ridge B (78.5°S 102 E) and leading to the Lennox King and Reedy Glaciers (both in the southern Transantarctic Mountains). Vertical bars show the expected maximum response of the surface to bedrock undulations of 3.3 ice thicknesses (Budd, 1970), with a range of one standard deviation. Valid ranges are defined by Equation 1.

Figure 5

Table IPhysical Parameters Relevant to the Three Profiles to which Cross-Spectral Analysis has been Applied (Figure 5). Most Measured Values are from Drewry (1983). Basal Temperatures have been Derived using the Model of Budd (1969).