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Subglacial hydrological control on flow of an Antarctic Peninsula palaeo-ice stream

Larter, Robert D.; Hogan, Kelly A.; Hillenbrand, Claus-Dieter; Smith, James A.; Batchelor, Christine L.; Cartigny, Matthieu; Tate, Alex J.; Kirkham, James D.; Roseby, Zoë A.; Kuhn, Gerhard; Graham, Alastair G.C.; Dowdeswell, Julian A.

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Authors

Robert D. Larter

Kelly A. Hogan

Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand

James A. Smith

Christine L. Batchelor

Alex J. Tate

James D. Kirkham

Zoë A. Roseby

Gerhard Kuhn

Alastair G.C. Graham

Julian A. Dowdeswell



Abstract

Basal hydrological systems play an important role in controlling the dynamic behaviour of ice streams. Data showing their morphology and relationship to geological substrates beneath modern ice streams are, however, sparse and difficult to collect. We present new multibeam bathymetry data that make the Anvers-Hugo Trough west of the Antarctic Peninsula the most completely surveyed palaeo-ice stream pathway in Antarctica. The data reveal a diverse range of landforms, including streamlined features where there was fast flow in the palaeo-ice stream, channels eroded by flow of subglacial water, and compelling evidence of palaeo-ice stream shear margin locations. We interpret landforms as indicating that subglacial water availability played an important role in facilitating ice stream flow and controlling shear margin positions. Water was likely supplied to the ice stream bed episodically as a result of outbursts from a subglacial lake located in the Palmer Deep basin on the inner continental shelf. These interpretations have implications for controls on the onset of fast ice flow, the dynamic behaviour of palaeo-ice streams on the Antarctic continental shelf, and potentially also for behaviour of modern ice streams.

Citation

Larter, R. D., Hogan, K. A., Hillenbrand, C., Smith, J. A., Batchelor, C. L., Cartigny, M., …Dowdeswell, J. A. (2019). Subglacial hydrological control on flow of an Antarctic Peninsula palaeo-ice stream. The Cryosphere, 13(6), 1583-1596. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1583-2019

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 29, 2019
Online Publication Date Jun 5, 2019
Publication Date Jun 5, 2019
Deposit Date Jun 19, 2019
Publicly Available Date Jun 19, 2019
Journal Cryosphere
Publisher Copernicus Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 13
Issue 6
Pages 1583-1596
DOI https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1583-2019

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