Glacier dynamics at Skalafellsjökull, Iceland

Abstract
GPR and GPS were used to: 1) Identify the glacier base, and combined with measured borehole depths, map the glacier depth (0-190m) and calculate the radar velocity through ice (0.179m ns-1). 2) Identify three styles of subglacial glaciotectonic compressive deformation from the radargrams: a) subglacial thrust sheets (2.7-5m thick sheets moving at approximately 3m per year); b) an elongated hill, oriented parallel with the ice direction (elongation ratio 1.4:1; 20m high, 142m long, with a step proximal side and a shallow distal side), composed of till thrust sheets (4-5m thick)(drumlinoid); c) a series of till ridges perpendicular to ice direction (6m high, 50-110m in length) also comprising till thrust sheets (ribbed moraine), 3) Calculate spatial and temporal changes in the glacier velocity.
Full Report
Selected external publications resulting from this GEF loan
- Hart, J.K., Clayton, A.I., Martinez, K. and Robson, B.A., 2018, Erosional and depositional subglacial streamlining processes at Skalafellsjokull, Iceland: an analogue for a new bedform continuum model, GFF, 140(2), p153-169, doi: 10.1080/11035897.2018.1477830
- Hart, J.K., Martinez, K., Basford, P.J., Clayton, A.I., Bragg, G.M., Ward, T. and Young, D.S., 2019, Surface melt‐driven seasonal behaviour (englacial and subglacial) from a soft‐bedded temperate glacier recorded by in situ wireless probes, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, doi: 10.1002/esp.4611
- Hart, J.K., Martinez, K., Basford, P.J., Clayton, A.I., Robson, B.A. and Young, D.S., 2019, Surface melt driven summer diurnal and winter multi-day stick-slip motion and till sedimentology, Nature Communications, 10(1), doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09547-6
- Hart, J.K., Rose, K.C., Clayton, A. and Martinez, K., 2015, Englacial and subglacial water flow at Skalafellsjokull, Iceland derived from ground penetrating radar, in situ Glacsweb probe and borehole water level measurements, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, doi: 10.1002/esp.3783
- Hart, J.K., 2017, Subglacial till formation: Microscale processes within the subglacial shear zone, Quaternary Science Reviews, 170, p26-44, doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.06.021
- Martinez, K., Hart, J.K., Basford, P.J., Bragg, G.M., Ward, T. and Young, D.S., 2017, A geophone wireless sensor network for investigating glacier stick-slip motion, Computers & Geosciences, 105, p103-112, doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2017.05.005
