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A Consistent Framework for Coupling Basal Friction With Subglacial Hydrology on Hard-Bedded Glaciers

gilbert2022Predicting the sliding speed of glaciers and ice sheets is challenged by the difficulties of assessing the water pressure at the glacier base. Here, we improve the coupling between existing theories about basal friction and subglacial hydrology by introducing a consistent description of roughness and hydraulic transmissivity. Our work breaks with the common view on the subglacial environment that water pressure drives the sliding speed by modulating friction at the glacier base. Instead, our findings show that at multi-day and longer timescales sliding speed and water pressure are imposed by the water discharge along the glacier base that needs to be accommodated. Our results open new perspectives for understanding contemporary glacier and ice sheet sliding and predicting its future behavior under changing climate.

Read more: Gilbert A., F. Gimbert, K. Thøgersen, T. V. Schuler and A. Kääb, 2022. A Consistent Framework for Coupling Basal Friction With Subglacial Hydrology on Hard-Bedded Glaciers, Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2021GL097507, doi:10.1029/2021GL097507

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