Research Article

Seasonal waves on glaciers

  1. I. J. Hewitt1,*,
  2. A. C. Fowler2

Article first published online: 13 MAY 2008

DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7029

Issue

Hydrological Processes

Hydrological Processes

Special Issue: Glaciers in Watershed and Global Hydrology

Volume 22, Issue 19, pages 3919–3930, 15 September 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hewitt, I. J. and Fowler, A. C. (2008), Seasonal waves on glaciers. Hydrol. Process., 22: 3919–3930. doi: 10.1002/hyp.7029

Author Information

  1. 1

    Mathematical Institute, Oxford University, 24-29 St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LB, UK

  2. 2

    Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick, Limerick, Republic of Ireland and Mathematical Institute, Oxford University, 24-29 St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LB, UK

*Mathematical Institute, Oxford University, 24-29 St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LB, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 AUG 2008
  2. Article first published online: 13 MAY 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 FEB 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 8 SEP 2007

Funded by

  • Science Foundation Ireland. Grant Number: 06/MI/005

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Keywords:

  • subglacial hydrology;
  • glacier sliding;
  • glacier dynamics;
  • seasonal drainage evolution

Abstract

Seasonal waves accompanying annual changes in the sliding velocity of ice travel down glacier at speeds much faster than the ice itself. A simple explanation for these waves in terms of the passage of a pressure wave through the subglacial drainage system is given. Drainage by both distributed and localized systems is explored, with the sliding velocity governed by a dependence on the effective pressure. Waves are caused by drainage through a slow distributed system, but may be damped if this is well connected to an efficient channelized system. A possible connection between these waves and high velocity spring events is discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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