Flow switching and large-scale deposition by ice streams draining former ice sheets

Research Article| April 01, 2006 Flow switching and large-scale deposition by ice streams draining former ice sheets Julian A. Dowdeswell; Julian A. Dowdeswell 1Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1ER, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Dag Ottesen; Dag Ottesen 2Geological Survey of Norway, Trondheim N-7491, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Leif Rise Leif Rise 2Geological Survey of Norway, Trondheim N-7491, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Julian A. Dowdeswell 1Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1ER, UK Dag Ottesen 2Geological Survey of Norway, Trondheim N-7491, Norway Leif Rise 2Geological Survey of Norway, Trondheim N-7491, Norway Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 15 Sep 2005 Revision Received: 05 Dec 2005 Accepted: 14 Dec 2005 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2006) 34 (4): 313–316. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22253.1 Article history Received: 15 Sep 2005 Revision Received: 05 Dec 2005 Accepted: 14 Dec 2005 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Julian A. Dowdeswell, Dag Ottesen, Leif Rise; Flow switching and large-scale deposition by ice streams draining former ice sheets. Geology 2006;; 34 (4): 313–316. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22253.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Fast-flowing ice streams are responsible for the bulk of mass transfer through large ice sheets. We use extensive three-dimensional seismic data from the western Norwegian margin to explain how a several-hundred-kilometer-long ice stream has undergone major switching in flow direction from one glaciation to the next. The direction of ice flow is inferred from the pattern of buildup of thousands of cubic kilometers of glacier-derived debris and observations of large-scale streamlined landforms on former subglacial beds. We demonstrate that ice streams can undergo major changes in flow direction through modification of their large-scale topographic setting. Whereas ice-stream switching in modern ice sheets has been regarded mainly as a reflection of internal changes in ice-sheet dynamics, switching over successive 100 k.y. glacial cycles may in this case be a response to the effects of continuing sediment deposition and the large-scale development of ice-influenced continental margins. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.