Article
Isotopic signature of debris-rich ice formed by regelation into a subglacial sediment bed
Geophysical Research Letters
(1996)
Abstract
Among the processes that may entrain sediment in the bases of glaciers and ice sheets, basal ice may regelate downward into the pores of unlithified sediment. Laboratory studies suggest that this process leaves interstitial ice with a distribution of δ18O and δD that is distinct from that developed due to downward freezing of a semi-closed water reservoir. Although as a result of both processes these isotopes lie on a freezing slope in a δD-δ18O diagram, debris layers entrained by regelation past grains are both enriched in heavy isotopes with depth and display a downward decrease in deuterium excess, the converse of that due to downward freezing of a water reservoir. Moreover, the extent of enrichment can be significantly larger in the case of regelation into the bed. Reevaluated field data from West Greenland are consistent with regelation into the bed as an entrainment mechanism.
Disciplines
Publication Date
May 15, 1996
DOI
10.1029/96GL01073
Publisher Statement
Copyright American Geophysical Union 1996. Posted with permission.
Citation Information
Neal R. Iverson and Roland Souchez. "Isotopic signature of debris-rich ice formed by regelation into a subglacial sediment bed" Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 23 Iss. 10 (1996) p. 1151 - 1154 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/neal-iverson/12/