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Formation of mega-scale glacial lineations observed beneath a West Antarctic ice stream

Nature Geoscience volume 2, pages 585–588 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Most discharge from large ice sheets takes place through fast-flowing ice streams and their speed is strongly modulated by interactions between the ice and the underlying sediments. Seismic surveys and investigations through boreholes have revealed a spatial association between fast ice flow and saturated deformable sediments. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the morphology of the interface between ice and sediments is still limited, resulting in only rudimentary understanding of the basal boundary conditions beneath ice streams and the generation of subglacial bedforms. Here we present radar data from the bed of a West Antarctic ice stream that reveal the presence of mega-scale glacial lineations. We combine these data with previously published seismic data and show that these lineations develop in areas of dilatant deforming till and are part of a dynamic sedimentary system that undergoes significant change by erosion and deposition on decadal timescales. We find that the mega-scale glacial lineations are indistinguishable from those found on beds of palaeo-ice streams, providing conclusive evidence for the hypothesis that highly elongate bedforms are a characteristic of fast-flow regions in ice sheets.

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Figure 1: Location map for radar survey.
Figure 2: Radar results.
Figure 3: Comparison between radar and seismic data.
Figure 4: Comparison of modern and relict bedforms.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. M. Smith for permission to use the seismic interpretations shown in Fig. 3. R. Stilwell and the Operations staff of Rothera Research Station are thanked for support in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK

    E. C. King & R. C. A. Hindmarsh

  2. Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK

    C. R. Stokes

Authors
  1. E. C. King
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  2. R. C. A. Hindmarsh
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  3. C. R. Stokes
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Contributions

E.C.K. collected and processed the radar data, prepared the figures and wrote the draft paper. C.R.S. and R.C.A.H. contributed to the interpretation of the data and the writing of the paper.

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Correspondence to E. C. King.

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King, E., Hindmarsh, R. & Stokes, C. Formation of mega-scale glacial lineations observed beneath a West Antarctic ice stream. Nature Geosci 2, 585–588 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo581

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