CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Blatter, H.
Date : 1987.
Title : On the thermal regime of an arctic valley glacier: a study of White Glacier, Axel Heiberg,Island, NWT, Canada
Publication : Journal of Glaciology
Issue : 33(114):
Page(s) : 200-211
Abstract
From 1974 to 1981, a total of 32 bore holes was drilled on White Glacier and vertical ice-temperature profiles measured. The data obtained allowed the construction of three longitudinal and four transverse profiles of the two-dimensional temperature distributions. Thus, an extensive layer of temperate or near-temperate ice was discovered close to the bedrock in the lowest part of the glacier tongue. It was also found that the temperature distribution cannot be in a steady state, since there is a temperature minimum 100-150 m below the glacier surface in the accumulation area. A simple numerical model calculation shows that this minimum can be mostly explained by the general climatic warming since 1880. The 10 m temperatures show diffuse relations to climatic conditions and balance zones. A simple scheme for extrapolating "surface temperatures" is discussed.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology