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⇱ A numerical model of landform development by glacial erosion | Nature

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Abstract

The jagged peaks, knife-edged ridges, and steep-sided valleys of alpine landscapes are well known products of glaciation, yet little is known about how the dynamics of ice flow and glacial erosion give rise to such landforms. By linking a finite-element model for ice flow through a valley with a model for glacial erosion, we have simulated the gradual evolution of one of the most striking of glacial landforms, the U-shaped valley. Incorporating realistic glacier sliding laws and spatial variations in rock resistance, our simulations illustrate how ice flow, erosion patterns and topography interact in the long term evolution of glacial landforms. In addition, our results indicate for the first time that the formation of a steady-state U-shaped valley takes approximately 105 years.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences and Quaternary Research Center, University of Washington AJ-20, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Jonathan M. Harbor & Bernard Hallet

  2. Geophysics Program and Quaternary Research Center, University of Washington AK-50, Seattle, Washington, 98195, USA

    Charles F. Raymond

Authors
  1. Jonathan M. Harbor
  2. Bernard Hallet
  3. Charles F. Raymond

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Cite this article

Harbor, J., Hallet, B. & Raymond, C. A numerical model of landform development by glacial erosion. Nature 333, 347–349 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333347a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333347a0

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