Influence of a non-uniform velocity field on isochrone geometry along a steady flowline of an ice sheet

Frédéric Parrenin (1) , Richard Hindmarsh (2)

1 LGGE - Laboratoire de glaciologie et géophysique de l'environnement
2 BAS - British Antarctic Survey

The relationship between velocity field and isochrone geometry along a steady flowline of an ice sheet is examined. The method is analytical and based upon the stream function and its vertically normalized form, the normalized stream function (NSF). We show that the slope of the isochrones is the slope of the iso-NSF lines, plus a path term which is the cumulative result of the past trajectory of the ice particles. We illustrate this path term in three different examples: varying basal melting, varying basal sliding (Weertman effect) and varying velocity profile around a divide (Raymond effect). The path term generally counteracts the slope of the iso-NSF lines. In the case of the Raymond effect, it can even lead to depressions surrounding the bumps if the transition from dome to flank velocity profile is sufficiently abrupt.

Domains: Glaciology

Frédéric Parrenin, Richard Hindmarsh. Influence of a non-uniform velocity field on isochrone geometry along a steady flowline of an ice sheet. Journal of Glaciology, 2007, 53 (183), pp.612 à 622. ⟨10.3189/002214307784409298⟩. ⟨insu-00377229⟩