EFFECT OF A BASAL WATER LAYER ON THE DIMENSIONS OF ICE SHEETS.
Abstract
The effect of a basal water layer on the equilibrium dimensions of an ice sheet is examined. A thick water layer can decrease the equilibrium thickness of an ice sheet such as covers Antarctica (which contains no significant ablational areas) by a factor of the order of 2. Similar large changes in the equilibrium dimensions occur for ice-age ice sheets (which have extensive ablational areas). The extent of the ablation area of an ice-age ice sheet which may be covered with morainal debris also is calculated. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0644596
Entities
People
- J. Weertman
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory