Studies of the Role of Water in Glacier Dynamics

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This investigation is an on-going study of processes at a glacier bed. The objectives are to study time and space variations in the coupling between the glacier and its bed, to develop a relation between water pressure variations and sliding velocity, and to study the nature and evolution of internal drainage within glacier. The field part of the study will be conducted on Storglaciaren in northern Sweden, which is readily accessible from the University of Stockholm's tarfala Resedarch Station. Weekly and, in some cases, daily measurements of stake movements will be made, combined with measurements of water pressure variations and internal deformation in holes bored to the base of the glacier. Continuous measurements of strain and tilt, studies of internal drainage with the use of dye tracers, and monitoring of surface ablation and water and sediments discharge at the ternimous will also be carried out. Understanding of basal processes and, in particular, the effects of subglacial water pressure is critical in the effort to understand basal sliding.