Implications of the form of the Flow Law for Vertical Velocity and Age–Depth Profiles in Polar Ice release_ardaf5avgvhkvp722tthjx7use

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> Two situations are studied in relation to the flow law of polar ice. In each case, models are used with a flow-law exponent of one, and with the more traditional exponent of three. The horizontal velocity profile at Devon Island, Arctic Canada, is better fitted by <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 1; for the vertical velocity profile, <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 3 gives a better fit, but both model profiles fall well within experimental error. For the Camp Century age–depth profile, only <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 1 gives an acceptable fit when temperature is allowed for. The large discrepancy between isothermal and non-isothermal models for <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 3 shows the importance of allowing for temperature in studies of ice-sheet properties.
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