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Bedforms of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica: Character and Origin

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Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:Pennsylvania State University

Title:

Bedforms of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica: Character and Origin

Other_Citation_Details:

R.B. Alley1, N. Holschuh2,3, D.R. MacAyeal4, B.R. Parizek1, L. Zoet5, K. Riverman6, A. Muto7, K. Christianson2, E. Clyne1, S. Anandakrishnan1, N. Stevens5, GHOST Collaboration† 1Department of Geosciences, and Earth and Environmental Systems Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA 2Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA 3Department of Geology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA, USA 4Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA 5Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA 6Department of Earth Science, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA 7Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Online_Linkage: https://thwaitesglacier.org/projects/ghost

Online_Linkage: http://www.datacommons.psu.edu/

Description:

Abstract:

Bedforms of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica both record and affect ice flow. Thwaites Glacier flows across the tectonic fabric of the West Antarctic rift system with its bedrock highs and sedimentary basins.  Swath radar and seismic surveys of the glacier bed have revealed soft-sediment flutes 100 m or more high extending 15 km or more across basins downglacier from bedrock highs, and ending at prominent hard-bedded moats on stoss sides of the next topographic highs. We use simple models to show that ice flow against topography generates high pressure between ice and till upglacier along the bed over a distance that scales with the topography.  This high pressure would exclude ice-contact water there and thus increase ice-till coupling and till flux there, removing till to allow bedrock erosion and create moats.  Till carried across highlands would then be deposited in lee-side positions, remaining soft on top to approach steady-state by matching till-deformational fluxes from upglacier of the topography, and prograding downglacier over time. The bedforms of the part of Thwaites surveyed here are prominent because ice flow has persisted over a long time on this geological setting, not because ice flow is anomalous.  Bedform development likely has caused evolution of ice flow over time.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Currentness_Reference:

publication date

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate:-180

East_Bounding_Coordinate:180

North_Bounding_Coordinate:90

South_Bounding_Coordinate:-90

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:ISO 19115 Topic Categories

Theme_Keyword:climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere

Access_Constraints:None.

Use_Constraints:

The University excludes any and all implied warranties, including warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
The University makes no warranty or representation, either express or implied, with respect to the FILES or accompanying documentation, including its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. The FILES and documentation are provided "as is" and the USER assumes the entire risk as to its quality and performance.
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Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:Pennsylvania State University

Contact_Person:Richard Alley

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:mailing address

Address:

306 Deike Building

Address:

Department of Geosciences

City:University Park

State_or_Province:Pennsylvania

Postal_Code:16802

Country:United States

Contact_Voice_Telephone:(814) 863-1700

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:ralley@essc.psu.edu

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 4; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Organization:Penn State Data Commons

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:mailing and physical address

Address:

115 Land and Water Building

City:University Park

State_or_Province:Pennsylvania

Postal_Code:16802

Country:United States

Contact_Voice_Telephone:(814) 865 - 8792

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:datacommons@psu.edu

Distribution_Liability:

The USER shall indemnify, save harmless, and, if requested, defend those parties involved with the development and distribution of this data, their officers, agents, and employees from and against any suits, claims, or actions for injury, death, or property damage arising out of the use of or any defect in the FILES or any accompanying documentation. Those parties involved with the development and distribution excluded any and all implied warranties, including warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose and makes no warranty or representation, either express or implied, with respect to the FILES or accompanying documentation, including its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. The FILES and documentation are provided "as is" and the USER assumes the entire risk as to its quality and performance. Those parties involved with the development and distribution of this data will not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the FILES or any accompanying documentation.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:Penn State Data Commons

Contact_Position:Metadata Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:mailing address

Address:

115 Land and Water Building

City:University Park

State_or_Province:Pennsylvania

Postal_Code:16802

Country:United States

Contact_Voice_Telephone:814-865-8792

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:datacommons@psu.edu

Metadata_Standard_Name:FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version:FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention:local time

Metadata_Extensions:

Profile_Name:ESRI Metadata Profile