Flow-switching and water piracy between Rutford Ice Stream and Carlson Inlet, West Antarctica

Vaughan, David G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9065-0570; Corr, Hugh F.J.; Smith, Andy M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8577-482X; Pritchard, Hamish D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2936-1734; Shepherd, Andrew. 2008 Flow-switching and water piracy between Rutford Ice Stream and Carlson Inlet, West Antarctica. Journal of Glaciology, 54 (184). 41-48. https://doi.org/10.3189/002214308784409125

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Abstract/Summary

Rutford Ice Stream and Carlson Inlet are neighbouring glaciers in West Antarctica. Rutford Ice Stream flows at speeds greater than 350m a(-1), whereas Carlson Inlet, which has some similar dimensions and supports a similar driving stress, flows 10-50 times slower. We discuss a range of observations concerning Carlson Inlet, and conclude that there is good indirect evidence that it is a relict ice stream, which ceased streaming more than 240 years BP, but sufficiently recently that its surface morphology, basal water content and basal morphology still retain characteristics produced by streaming. An analysis of expected subglacial drainage pathways indicates that Carlson Inlet is not streaming because it is currently starved of subglacial water, which is currently directed beneath Rutford Ice Stream. This current state of water piracy by Rutford Ice Stream is, however, sensitive to minor thickness changes on the ice streams; a similar to 120 m (<4%) thickening of Rutford Ice Stream would divert almost all the subglacial water in the system towards Carlson Inlet and could reactivate its flow. The result highlights the importance of subglacial drainage in controlling ice-stream evolution and the requirement for ice-sheet models to couple ice flow with subglacial drainage.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3189/002214308784409125
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Glacial Retreat in Antarctica and Deglaciation of the Earth System
ISSN:	0022-1430
NORA Subject Terms:	Glaciology Hydrology
Date made live:	17 Feb 2011 11:34 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/11651

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.3189/002214308784409125

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Glacial Retreat in Antarctica and Deglaciation of the Earth System

ISSN:

0022-1430

NORA Subject Terms:

Glaciology
Hydrology

Date made live:

17 Feb 2011 11:34 +0 (UTC)