The basal stress distribution of ice stream E, Antarctica, inferred by control methods

Abstract

The irregular spatial distribution and velocity independence of basal friction derived from Landsat measured surface velocity suggests that the ice stream flow is not controlled by the properties of a deformable basalt till alone. Rigid bedrock substrata may contact the base of the ice stream in small (<100 km2) areas where the velocity field displays strong vorticity and where the ice stream surface appears rumpled in Landsat images. -Author