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The flow of salt glaciers
Author(s) -
Wenkert Daniel D.
Publication year - 1979
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/gl006i006p00523
Subject(s) - halite , strain rate , geology , glacier , salt (chemistry) , strain (injury) , stress (linguistics) , creep , climb , mineralogy , materials science , geomorphology , thermodynamics , composite material , chemistry , physics , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , structural basin
The flow of salt glaciers is investigated. On the basis of data extracted from published sources, order of magnitude estimates (and probable upper and lower limits) for the stress and strain rate in a salt glacier in Iran are determined. The estimate of strain rate is much larger (by a factor of ∼10 8 ) than strain rates predicted by previously investigated flow mechanisms for halite (i.e., Nabarro‐Herring creep and dislocation climb) at the stress estimated. The observed stress and strain rate can better be explained as creep due to the diffusion of ions through an interstitial salt‐water solution.