1. ERDC Knowledge Core
2. Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
3. Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) - (2/1/1961 - present)
4. CRREL Research Report

Title:	Profile and heat balance at the bottom surface of an ice sheet fringed by mountain ranges
Authors:	Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). Technological Institute. Weertman, Johannes.
Keywords:	Glaciers Ice Ice sheets Ice caps Velocity Thickness Temperature Measurement
Publisher:	Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	Research report (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)) ; 134.
Description:	Research Report Summary: The profile of an ice sheet fringed by mountain ranges has been found. The calculation is broken down into three parts: determination of the profile of an outlet glacier, determination of the profile on the ice sheet itself of the drainage area at the head of an outlet glacier, and determination of the profile of the central portion of the ice sheet. The main result of this extension of the theory of ice sheet profiles is the conclusion that the profile of an ice sheet is little influenced by the presence of encircling mountains, provided that mature outlet glaciers drain the ice sheet through the mountains. As in the case of ice sheets, an uncertainty exists in deciding whether or not the bottom of a mature outlet glacier is at the melting point. The cause of the uncertainty is the fact that the heat of sliding is of the same order of magnitude as the heat conducted down the temperature gradient at the bottom surface. The bottom temperature of immature outlet glaciers ordinarily should be at the pressure melting point, thus enabling such glaciers to erode their beds.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/5941
Appears in Collections:	CRREL Research Report