Hydraulics and sediment deformation beneath an ice stream: A multi-component geophysical AVO investigation

Andy Smith
2011
Hydraulics and sediment deformation beneath an ice stream: A multi-component geophysical AVO investigation
This is a Full Scientific Report resulting from NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility Loan 887, principal investigator Dr Andy Smith.

Abstract

A set of geophysical experiments on Rutford Ice Stream in the 2009-10 austral summer produced new data addressing the physical conditions and flow controls at the ice stream bed. NERC GEF seismic and GPS equipment were used to support active seismic and ice-penetrating radar surveys. Data analyses are at an early stage. So far, GPS monitoring of ice flow confirms a known periodic variability and surface elevation grids have been used to process seismic and radar data. Future work will analyse the seismic data (reflection and AVO) to determine the physical nature of the bed material, allowing modelling of groundwater flow beneath the ice stream. An inability to recover the majority of the passive seismic data means they are of little value to the project.

Full Report

PDF Hydraulics and sediment deformation beneath an ice stream: A multi-component geophysical AVO investigation (1.1 Mb)

Selected external publications resulting from this GEF loan

  1. King, M.A., Murray, T. and Smith, A.M., 2010, Non-linear responses of Rutford Ice Stream, Antarctica, to semi-diurnal and diurnal tidal forcing, Journal of Glaciology, 56(195), pp167-176, doi: 10.3189/002214310791190848
  2. Scott, J.B.T., Smith, A.M., Bingham, R.G., Vaughan, D.G. and , 2010, Crevasses triggered on Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, by drilling through and exceptional melt layer, Annals of Glaciology, 51, pp65-70, doi: 10.3189/172756410791392763
  3. Ross, N., Siegert, M.J., Woodward, J., Smith, A.M., Corr, H.F.J., Bentley, M.J., Hindmarsh, R.C.A., King, E.C. and Rivera, A., 2011, Holocene stability of the Amundsen-Weddell ice divide, West Antarctica, Geology, 39, pp935-938, doi: 10.1130/G31920.1
  4. Thoma, M., Grosfeld, K., Meyer, C., Smith, A.M., Woodward, J. and Ross, N., 2011, The `tipping` temperature within Subglacial Lake Ellsworth and its implications for lake access, Cryosphere, 5, pp561-567, doi: 10.5194/tc-5-561-2011
  5. Smith, A.M., Bentley, C.R., Bingham, R.G. and Jordan, T.A., 2012, Rapid subglacial erosion beneath Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, Geophysical Research Letters, 39, L12501, doi: 10.1029/2012GL051651
Back Back to the list of GEF reports