PMP: Pressure melting
point is the temperature at
which ice is on the point of
melting. As pressure
increases this temperature
becomes lower.
The way in which ice moves
depends on whether it is a warm
based (temperate) glacier such as
the Athabasca (Canada) or cold
based polar glacier - e.g. Merserve
Glacier, Antarctica
E.g. Arctic/Antarctic
High latitude locations
Low relief
Temperatures well below 0C
Basal temperature below pressure melting point - frozen to bed
As pressure
melting point not
reached no
meltwater
available.
Summer
temperatures may be
below freezing and
low precipitation
Limited ablation and accumulation
Movement is slow - Meserve Glacier Antarctica 3-4m per year
Little erosion
Main mechanisms for movement in cold based glacier is internal flow or internal deformation
The ice deforms under its own weight because of gravity
Intergranular flow - Crystals
reorientate in direction of
glacier movement and move
in relation to each other
Laminar flow - movement of
individual layers within the glacier,
slide over each other resulting in
laminar flow
Little friction so no melting and as the surface moves slightly faster crevasses
form. Movement n this way is very slow, tens of metres per year. The thicker the
ice , the faster internal deformation