Structure and stability of the former subglacial drainage system of the Glacier de Tsanfleuron, Switzerland

Auteurs :
SHARP, M.
CAMPBELL GEMMELL, J.
TISON, J. L.

Description :
This system covers some 51 per cent of the bedrock surface area, and is believed to have transported the bulk of supraglacially-derived meltwaters through the glacier. Using the cavity hydraulics model of Kamb (1987), it is shown that the geometry of the system rendered it stable against collapse by meltback of channel roofs into a tunnel-dominated system. The system appears to have adjusted to varying discharges by a combination of varying water pressure and changing the total cross-sectional area of flow by altering the number of active channels connecting cavities.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 1989, vol. 14, n°. 2, p. 119-134, Références bibliographiques : 18 réf.

Date :
1989

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley