Ice crystallographic evolution at a temperate glacier: Glacier de Tsanfleuron, Switzerland

J. L. Tison, Bryn Hubbard

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Proceeding (Non-Journal item)

16 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Ice crystallographic measurements have been made on eight cores retrieved from temperate Glacier de Tsanfleuron, Switzerland. Cores are aligned approximately along a Bow-parallel transect, allowing a stratigraphic model of crystallographic evolution at the glacier to be constructed.

Results indicate the presence of four crystallographic units at the glacier. Unit 1 composed of homogeneous, fine-grained ice with a uniform fabric. is located within c. 20 m of the ice surface in the accumulation area of the glacier. Crystal growth within this unit occurs in the absence of significant stresses, and its rate is closely described by an Arrhenius-type relationship. Unit 2 ice, characterized by the local development of coarser crystals, forms after some decades of Arrhenius growth, marking the initial influence of processes of dynamic recrystallisation. Unit 3 ice, characterized by an abrupt increase in minimum crystal size, occurs at a depth of c. 33 m throughout the glacier. In the accumulation area. this increase coincides with the first evidence of systematic fabric enhancement, interpreted in terms of dynamic recrystallisation. Unit 4 ice, characterized by large, interlocking grains with a multi-modal girdle fabric, develops within c. 10 m of the glacier bed. Here, the measured minimum crystal size is consistent with a steady-state balance between Arrhenius processes of grain growth and strain-related processes of grain-size reduction. These changes are interpreted in terms of the effects of intense, continuous deformation in this basal zone.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDeformation of Glacial Materials
EditorsAlex Maltman, B. Hubbard, M. J. Hambrey
PublisherGEOLOGICAL SOC PUBLISHING HOUSE
Pages23-38
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)978-1862390720, 186239072X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Nov 2000
EventConference on Deformation of Glacial Materials - LONDON
Duration: 01 Sept 1999 → …

Publication series

NameGeological Society Special Publication
PublisherGEOLOGICAL SOC PUBLISHING HOUSE
Volume176
ISSN (Print)0305-8719

Conference

ConferenceConference on Deformation of Glacial Materials
CityLONDON
Period01 Sept 1999 → …

Keywords

  • CRYSTAL SIZE
  • BORE-HOLE
  • FABRICS
  • CORE

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