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A slip law for glaciers on deformable beds
Lucas K Zoet1,2, Neal R Iverson2
1Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. lzoet@wisc.edu.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 4, 2020
Summary
Marine ice streams slipping over deformable till beds significantly contribute to sea level rise. A new slip law for ice sheet models combines hard-bedded sliding and till deformation processes.
Area of Science:
- Glaciology
- Earth Science
- Geophysics
Background:
- Marine-terminating ice streams in West Antarctica are a major contributor to global sea level rise.
- Accurate ice flow models require understanding the relationship between slip resistance, velocity, and water pressure at the ice-bed interface.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally determine the slip law governing ice flow over deformable till beds.
- To develop a generalized slip law for incorporating into ice sheet and glacier flow models.
Main Methods:
- Conducting laboratory experiments simulating pressurized ice sliding over water-saturated till at melting temperatures.
- Measuring slip resistance and velocity under varying water pressures.
Main Results:
- Steady-state slip resistance increases with slip velocity due to ice sliding over the till.
- Above a critical velocity, the till deforms at its rate-independent Coulomb strength, controlling slip resistance.
Conclusions:
- The experimental results support a generalized slip law that integrates both sliding and till deformation mechanisms.
- This new slip law will improve the accuracy of ice sheet and glacier flow models, particularly for West Antarctic ice streams.
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