Antarctic Ice Streams: a review

The stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is influenced by the stability of the fast flowing ice streams that provide an outlet for much of the ice. These ice streams flow at speeds of up to 800m per year, two orders of magnitude faster than the surrounding ice sheet. Early research on ice streams developed detailed maps of their location, velocities and thickness. The cause Of ice stream onset has been debated throughout the literature, and is still not properly understood, although current thought suggests that the change from bedrock to sedimentary basins coincides with the ice stream onset zone, Our understanding of ice stream mechanics changed dramatically in the late 1980's when it was discovered that beneath Ice Stream B lay a saturated, deforming till layer. Subsequent research concentrated on the mechanisms for ice stream movement and the distribution of stresses within the stream. Durng the 1990's research looked to find the major controls on ice stream movement, anaysling apparent 'sticky spots' and the role of margins. Evidence that Ice Steam C stagnated 150 years ago has sparked more recent work efforts to comprehend the overall stability of ice streams and their ability to start and stop, and to migrate at their boundaries. The methods used throughout ice stream research are considered and avenues for future research are presented. The stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is influenced by the stability of the fast flowing ice streams that provide an outlet for much of the ice. These ice streams flow at speeds of up to 800m per year, two orders of magnitude faster than the surrounding ice sheet. Early research on ice streams developed detailed maps of their location, velocities and thickness. The cause Of ice stream onset has been debated throughout the literature, and is still not properly understood, although current thought suggests that the change from bedrock to sedimentary basins coincides with the ice stream onset zone, Our understanding of ice stream mechanics changed dramatically in the late 1980's when it was discovered that beneath Ice Stream B lay a saturated, deforming till layer. Subsequent research concentrated on the mechanisms for ice stream movement and the distribution of stresses within the stream. Durng the 1990's research looked to find the major controls on ice stream movement, anaysling apparent 'sticky spots' and the role of margins. Evidence that Ice Steam C stagnated 150 years ago has sparked more recent work efforts to comprehend the overall stability of ice streams and their ability to start and stop, and to migrate at their boundaries. The methods used throughout ice stream research are considered and avenues for future research are presented