Subglacial water flow inferred from stream measurements at South Cascade Glacier, Washington, U.S.A.
Open Access
- 1 January 1992
- journal article
- Published by International Glaciological Society in Journal of Glaciology
- Vol. 38 (128) , 51-64
- https://doi.org/10.3189/s002214300000959x
Abstract
The subglacial drainage system of South Cascade Glacier is inferred by examining how discharges of water, solutes and artificial tracers in streams draining the glacier respond to meltwater and precipitation on the glacier surface. Results indicate that the glacier is divided into three (two large and one small) drainage basins, each drained by a single stream. The positions of drainage divides on the glacier surface do not always lie directly over those at the base of the glacier. Comparisons of water discharge and cation load in each of the two main streams indicate that subglacial hydraulic processes differ between drainage basins. One stream drains from a conduit that is isolated in its lower reach from the surrounding subglacial region and receives water routed englacially from the surface. The upper reach of the conduit also receives water routed englacially from the surface as well as from a distributed subglacial flow system. The other main stream drains from a conduit coupled to a debris layer beneath the glacier. Observations of the layer in natural ice tunnels indicate that the water may flow within a thin layer of debris. A one-dimensional model of flow through the debris layer can explain both the base-flow and diurnal variations of the second main stream.Keywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- Sediment concentration versus water discharge during single hydrologic events in riversPublished by Elsevier ,2003
- Water-Pressure Coupling of Sliding and Bed Deformation: I. Water SystemJournal of Glaciology, 1989
- Glacier surge mechanism based on linked cavity configuration of the basal water conduit systemJournal of Geophysical Research, 1987
- Subglacial till: A physical framework for its properties and processesJournal of Geophysical Research, 1987
- Discharges of Turbid Water during Mini-Surges of Variegated Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A.Journal of Glaciology, 1986
- Subglacial hydrology and sediment transport at Bondhusbreen, southwest NorwayGSA Bulletin, 1985
- Radio-Echo Sounding Maps of Storglaciären, Isfallsglaciären and Rabots Glaciär, Northern SwedenGeografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 1981
- Subglacial Shearing and Crushing, and the Role of Water Pressures in tills from South-East IcelandGeografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 1974
- Chemical weathering in the temperate glacial environment of the Northern Cascade MountainsGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1972
- Water Pressure in Intra- and Subglacial ChannelsJournal of Glaciology, 1972