Subglacial Water Pressures and the Shape of Subglacial Conduits
Open Access
- 1 January 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Journal of Glaciology
- Vol. 36 (122) , 67-71
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000005566
Abstract
Measured subglacial water pressures are frequently higher than theoretical values calculated by assuming that subglacial conduits are straight and either circular or semi-circular in shape. While this may be attributed to errors in the estimates of conduit roughness or ice viscosity, we suggest here an alternative explanation: namely, that the conduits are actually broad and low rather than semi-circular. Good agreement between measured and calculated pressures can be obtained by assuming that the cross-sectional shape of conduits resembles the space between the arc of a circle and its chord. The angle subtended by the arc, θ, is treated as an adjustable parameter. In four cases studied, θ ranged from 2° to 36°.Keywords
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