The formation of subglacial streams and mega-scale glacial lineations

Abstract

The instability theory of drumlin formation has been very successful in predicting the existence of ribbed moraine, as well as its amplitude and wavelength. However, the theory as it stands has not yet been shown to have the capability of predicting the existence of three-dimensional bedforms—drumlins—or their more extreme cousins, mega-scale glacial lineations. We extend the instability theory to include a dynamic description of the local subglacial drainage system, and in particular, we show that a uniform water-film flow between ice and deformable subglacial till is unstable, and that as a consequence, lineations will form. Predictions of the transverse wavelengths are consistent with observations.