Ice stream motion facilitated by a shallow-deforming and accreting bed

Matteo Spagnolo (), Emrys Phillips, Jan A. Piotrowski, Brice R. Rea, Chris D. Clark, Chris R. Stokes, Simon J. Carr, Jeremy C. Ely, Adriano Ribolini, Wojciech Wysota and Izabela Szuman
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Matteo Spagnolo: School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB243UF, UK
Emrys Phillips: British Geological Survey
Jan A. Piotrowski: Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Brice R. Rea: School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB243UF, UK
Chris D. Clark: University of Sheffield
Chris R. Stokes: Durham University
Simon J. Carr: School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London
Jeremy C. Ely: University of Sheffield
Adriano Ribolini: University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Wojciech Wysota: Faculty of Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University
Izabela Szuman: Adam Mickiewicz University

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Ice streams drain large portions of ice sheets and play a fundamental role in governing their response to atmospheric and oceanic forcing, with implications for sea-level change. The mechanisms that generate ice stream flow remain elusive. Basal sliding and/or bed deformation have been hypothesized, but ice stream beds are largely inaccessible. Here we present a comprehensive, multi-scale study of the internal structure of mega-scale glacial lineations (MSGLs) formed at the bed of a palaeo ice stream. Analyses were undertaken at macro- and microscales, using multiple techniques including X-ray tomography, thin sections and ground penetrating radar (GPR) acquisitions. Results reveal homogeneity in stratigraphy, kinematics, granulometry and petrography. The consistency of the physical and geological properties demonstrates a continuously accreting, shallow-deforming, bed and invariant basal conditions. This implies that ice stream basal motion on soft sediment beds during MSGL formation is accommodated by plastic deformation, facilitated by continuous sediment supply and an inefficient drainage system.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10723

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