Sublimation of ice through sediment in Beacon Valley, Antarctica

Special issue : the geomorphic and climatic significance of rock glaciers

Auteurs :
HINDMARSH, R.C.A.
VAN DER WATEREN, F.M.
VERBERS, A.L.L.M.

Description :
The time-dependent physics of ice sublimation through thin layers of till is considered, to determine whether sublimation could be sufficiently slow to permit the preservation of ice for 8 MA in the Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Steady-state models suggest that sublimation is rate-controlled by vapor transport. A time-dependent model coupling vapor concentration, air pressure, temperature and ice concentration is formulated, and the resulting equations solved non-linearly. The results mean either that vapor transport is being slowed down by some unconsidered physical process or that the ice is much younger than 8 Ma.


Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Geografiska annaler. Series A. Physical geography, issn : 0435-3676, 1998, vol. 80, n°. 3-4, p. 209-219, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 18 ref.

Date :
1998

Editeur :
Pays édition : Suede, Stockholm, Svenska sällskapet för antropologi och geografi