Extensive storage of basal meltwater in the onset region of a major West Antarctic ice stream

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2007 Extensive storage of basal meltwater in the onset region of a major West Antarctic ice stream Leo E. Peters; Leo E. Peters 1Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sridhar Anandakrishnan; Sridhar Anandakrishnan 1Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard B. Alley; Richard B. Alley 1Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew M. Smith Andrew M. Smith 2British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2007) 35 (3): 251–254. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23222A.1 Article history received: 22 Jul 2006 rev-recd: 09 Oct 2006 accepted: 29 Oct 2006 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Leo E. Peters, Sridhar Anandakrishnan, Richard B. Alley, Andrew M. Smith; Extensive storage of basal meltwater in the onset region of a major West Antarctic ice stream. Geology 2007;; 35 (3): 251–254. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G23222A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A major meltwater body exists beneath a tributary of Bindschadler Ice Stream, West Antarctica, in a region where subglacial lakes have not been mapped but near where rapid vertical motion of the ice sheet surface has suggested shifting of a subglacial water body. The water is trapped by a local reversal in ice-air surface slope arising from ice flow over variable basal topography and from the positive feedback of basal lubrication from the trapped water. Strong variations in the water content of the sediments upglacier of the water body arise from a similar process. These results are revealed by a novel application of the amplitude variation with offset (AVO) seismic technique. The existence of such water bodies and of the strong spatial variation in subglacial sediment properties is not captured in current models of subglacial hydrology, lubrication of ice stream motion, and sediment transport. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.