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Seismic evidence for a water-filled canal in deforming till beneath Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica

Lookup NU author(s): Aidan Smith

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Abstract

Seismic data from Rutford Ice Stream, West Antarctica show high amplitude, reversed-polarity reflections from parts of the bed. Only interfaces between ice and water, or between water and sediment have the acoustic properties to produce such strong reflections - ice/sediment interfaces produce much weaker echoes. The evidence suggests that an area of the ice stream measuring at least 1 km by 0.2 km is underlain by water with a depth of less than 1 m. The data are consistent with the presence of a sub-ice drainage system comprising shallow canals cut into the sedimentary substrate, as predicted by theory.

Publication metadata

Author(s): King EC, Woodward J, Smith AM

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Geophysical Research Letters

Year: 2004

Volume: 31

Issue: 20

ISSN (print): 0094-8276

ISSN (electronic): 1944-8007

Publisher: American Geophysical Union

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2004GL020379

DOI: 10.1029/2004GL020379

Notes: Article no. L20401 4 pages

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