Multiday Variations in Flow Velocity at Glaciar Soler, Northern Patagonia, Chile

Abstract

Ice flow speeds were measured at Glaciar Soler in northern Patagonia during the middle of the melt season (November–December) in 1998 and compared to data from 1985. In 1998 the surface flow speed was greater at all survey points, yet the ice was about 40 m thinner; the greater melt rate in 1998 probably explains these differences because of the effect of melt rate on basal sliding speed. Multiday variations in surface speed were well correlated with daily variations in surface water input, which is the sum of melt rate and rainfall. Although the basal sliding speeds vary from place to place, we obtained similar linear relationships between basal sliding speed and surface water input. This result indicates the possibility of taking account of basal sliding as a function of surface water input.