Geologic Publications for Mount Rainier

Calculations of slip of Nisqually Glacier on its bed: No simple relation of sliding velocity to shear stress

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Author(s): Mark F. Meier

Category: PUBLICATION
Document Type:
Publisher: International Association of Hydrological Sciences
Published Year: 1968
Volume: 79
Number:
Pages: 49 to 57
DOI Identifier:
ISBN Identifier:
Keywords:

Abstract:
Measurements on Nisqually Glacier, Mounth Rainier National Park, Washington, at a profile fixed in space, give 22 yearly values of surface velocity (u_s), surface slope (α), and changes in ice thickness (h). During this period (1943-66), u_s, α and h changed continuously by large amounts. These data were used to calculate values of shear stress (τ) on the bed and slip on the bed (u_b) according to standard procedures. Correction for the longitudinal gradient in longitudinal normal stress was made. The result is that u_b is not a simple, single-valued function of τ. This implies either (1) the velocity distribution within a valley glacier cannot be calculated this way, or (2) none of the existing theories of glacier sliding which relate sliding velocity to shear stress can be valid.

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In Text Citation:
Meier (1968) or (Meier, 1968)

References Citation:
Meier, M.F., 1968, Calculations of slip of Nisqually Glacier on its bed: No simple relation of sliding velocity to shear stress: International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Vol. 79, pp. 49-57.