Fortnightly variations in the flow velocity of Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica

Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4236-5369. 2006 Fortnightly variations in the flow velocity of Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica. Nature, 444 (7122). 1063-1064. 10.1038/nature05430

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Abstract/Summary

Most of the ice lost from the Antarctic ice sheet passes through a few fast-flowing and highly dynamic ice streams(1). Quantifying temporal variations in flow in these ice streams, and understanding their causes, is a prerequisite for estimating the potential contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet to global sea-level change(2,3). Here I show that surface velocities on a major West Antarctic Ice Stream, Rutford Ice Stream, vary periodically by about 20 per cent every two weeks as a result of tidal forcing. Tidally induced motion on ice streams has previously been thought to be limited to diurnal or even shorter-term variations(4-9). The existence of strong fortnightly variations in flow demonstrates the potential pitfalls of using repeated velocity measurements over intervals of days to infer long-term change.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/nature05430
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Glacial Retreat in Antarctica and Deglaciation of the Earth System
ISSN:	0028-0836
NORA Subject Terms:	Glaciology
Date made live:	09 May 2012 10:49 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12009

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/nature05430

Programmes:

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

ISSN:

0028-0836

NORA Subject Terms:

Glaciology

Date made live:

09 May 2012 10:49 +0 (UTC)