Glacier surge mechanism : 1982-1983 surge of the Variegated Glacier, Alaska
Kamb B, Raymond CF, Harrison W, Engelhardt H, Echelmeyer KA, Humphrey N, Brugman MM, Pfeffer T. 1985. Glacier surge mechanism : 1982-1983 surge of the Variegated Glacier, Alaska. Science. 227(4686):469-479
The hundredfold speedup in glacier motion in a surge of the kind that took place in Variegated Glacier in 1982-1983 is caused by the buildup of high water pressure in the basal passageway system, which is made possibly by a fundamental and pervasive change in the geometry and water-transport characteristics of this system. The behavior of the glacier in surge has many remarkable features, which can provide clues to a detailed theory of the surging process. The surge mechanism is akin to a proposed mechanism of overthrust faulting.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Kamb, Barclay; Raymond, C; Harrison, WD; Engelhardt, Hermann; Echelmeyer, K; Humphrey, N; Brugman, M; Pfeffer, T
- Units
- WRST
- Keywords
- Glaciers