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Subglacial sediments: A regional geological template for ice flow in West Antarctica
Author(s) -
Studinger Michael,
Bell Robin E.,
Blankenship Donald D.,
Finn Carol A.,
Arko Robert A.,
Morse David L.,
Joughin Ian
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl011788
Subject(s) - geology , antarctic ice sheet , ice stream , streams , ice shelf , rift , geomorphology , ice divide , fast ice , ice sheet , structural basin , sedimentary rock , oceanography , sea ice , paleontology , cryosphere , computer network , computer science
We use aerogeophysical data to estimate the distribution of marine subglacial sediments and fault‐bounded sedimentary basins beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). We find that significant ice flow occurs exclusively in regions covered by subglacial sediments. The onsets and lateral margins of ice streams coincide with the limit of marine sediments. Lateral margins are also consistently linked with fault‐bounded basins. We predict that the inland migration of ice streams B and C 1 towards the ice divide outside the region covered by marine or rift sediments is unlikely. The subglacial geology has the potential to modulate the dynamic evolution of the ice streams and the WAIS.