CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Creyts, T.T.; and Clarke, G.K.
Date : 2001.
Title : Simulating glaciohydraulic supercooling and sediment transfer in wet-based glaciers.
Publication : AGU 2001 Fall Meeting, Moscone Centre, San Franciso, California, December 10-14, 2001.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
Recently, the role of glaciohydraulic supercooling was exposed as an important process in subglacial sediment transport. Studies of exposed subglacial sediment packages have yielded insight into the percentage of sediment and the sediment grain size. Further investigations have shown that supercooling beneath wet-based glaciers occurs in many basins. Averaged water-discharge magnitudes for these glaciers vary widely but can exceed 10{-1}-{3}s(-1}m{-1}. Calculated Reynold's numbers in conjunction with observed water discharges indicate that the flow must be fully turbulent. We model ice accretion and sediment transport processes using a finite-difference algorithm. In order to accurately simulate turbulent flow, we introduce a D'arcy-Weisbach roughness coefficient. In addition, we depart from previous simulations that considered simple slab-type bed geometries in favor of curvilinear flow paths (e.g. riegel--overdeepening pairs). Incorporation of fully turbulent flow allows estimates of sediment grain size and total sediment package thickness. A non-dimensional form of the governing equations yields insight into the controlling parameters for supercooling and sediment transport.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology