Flow Of Ice Sheets In The Vicinity Of Subglacial Peaks

Abstract

Although changes of surface slope across a subglacial peak can be explained at least semi-quantitatively on a two-dimensional basis in terms of gradients of longitudinal and shear stresses along a flow line, we lack appreciation of flow in the third dimension which may tend to cause lower layers to flow around rather than over a sharp peak. This paper collects and surveys evidence relevant to flow in the third dimension and discusses the processes involved, particularly the evidence from radio-echo layering, and also discusses possible reasons for the lack of radio-echo layers near the base of the Antarctic ice sheet.