Basal ice facies and their formation in the Western Alps

Research at 11 glaciers in the western European Alps has resulted in the definition of seven basal ice facies. Ice facies formed by metamorphism are distinguished from those formed by open-system refreezing within basal cavities and from those formed by closed-system regelation. Individual basal ice facies are thereby linked to the subglacial physical conditions required for their formation. These associations allow inferences relating to bed type, basal temperature, and subglacial hydrology to be made on the basis of the presence of specific, diagnostic basal ice facies at any glacier where they may be observed. -from Authors