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pockets having a range of 119–135 m. The south-western part of the study area
lying close to the Veteheia nunatak shows abrupt increase in ice thickness from 39
to 135 m. A small area lying towards the eastern side of the Veteheia nunatak shows
a less ice thickness in the range of 8–55 m (Fig. 6c). During austral summer period,
the area becomes very slushy.
4.4 Bed Elevation
Computation of the bedrock elevation, showed an overall increase in the elevation
of the bedrock from northeast to southwest. The area lying close to the SOPIM has
bedrock elevation less than 100 m above msl, while the south-western part has the
highest bedrock elevation of 384 m above msl (Fig. 6d). The bedrocks in the study
area show an orientation of northwest to southwest. The highest elevated location of
the study area lying towards east of Veteheia nunatak is surrounded by a zone with
slightly less elevation in the range of 348–384 m, which is further surrounded by a
zone with elevation of 313–348 m.
4.5 Bedrock Slope
The bedrock slope is calculated from the bed elevation map and the map thus produced was plotted over the Toposheet. It shows that the area lying close to the
SOPIM is virtually flat with a slope of less than 2.4°. From the north-eastern part to
the south-western part of the study area, the bedrock slope gradually increases
(Fig. 6e). The map showing the bedrock slope is similar to that of the bedrock elevation map. The highest elevated location of the study area lying towards east of
Veteheia nunatak also shows highest slope of about 12° and is surrounded by a zone
with slightly less slope of about 11°, which is further surrounded by a zone with a
slope of about 10°.
4.6 Stress
The stress was calculated and the stress map of the Polar ice sheet in the study area
was plotted over the Toposheet (Fig. 6f). It shows a large area under less stress zone
(up to 53 kPa) surrounds two distinct least stress zones (up to 27 kPa). The northwestern part of the study area also shows a least stressed area which is surrounded
by a zone with the stress up to 53 kPa. In between two less stress zones, there exists
a linear zone towards the north-central part of the study area with a moderate stress
up to 79 kPa. This zone surrounds one small area and another elongated area with a
stress up to 100 kPa. A small area towards the south-western part of the study area
Glacier Stress Pattern as an Indicator for Climate Change
pockets having a range of 119–135 m. The south-western part of the study area
lying close to the Veteheia nunatak shows abrupt increase in ice thickness from 39
to 135 m. A small area lying towards the eastern side of the Veteheia nunatak shows
a less ice thickness in the range of 8–55 m (Fig. 6c). During austral summer period,
the area becomes very slushy.
4.4 Bed Elevation
Computation of the bedrock elevation, showed an overall increase in the elevation
of the bedrock from northeast to southwest. The area lying close to the SOPIM has
bedrock elevation less than 100 m above msl, while the south-western part has the
highest bedrock elevation of 384 m above msl (Fig. 6d). The bedrocks in the study
area show an orientation of northwest to southwest. The highest elevated location of
the study area lying towards east of Veteheia nunatak is surrounded by a zone with
slightly less elevation in the range of 348–384 m, which is further surrounded by a
zone with elevation of 313–348 m.
4.5 Bedrock Slope
The bedrock slope is calculated from the bed elevation map and the map thus produced was plotted over the Toposheet. It shows that the area lying close to the
SOPIM is virtually flat with a slope of less than 2.4°. From the north-eastern part to
the south-western part of the study area, the bedrock slope gradually increases
(Fig. 6e). The map showing the bedrock slope is similar to that of the bedrock elevation map. The highest elevated location of the study area lying towards east of
Veteheia nunatak also shows highest slope of about 12° and is surrounded by a zone
with slightly less slope of about 11°, which is further surrounded by a zone with a
slope of about 10°.
4.6 Stress
The stress was calculated and the stress map of the Polar ice sheet in the study area
was plotted over the Toposheet (Fig. 6f). It shows a large area under less stress zone
(up to 53 kPa) surrounds two distinct least stress zones (up to 27 kPa). The northwestern part of the study area also shows a least stressed area which is surrounded
by a zone with the stress up to 53 kPa. In between two less stress zones, there exists
a linear zone towards the north-central part of the study area with a moderate stress
up to 79 kPa. This zone surrounds one small area and another elongated area with a
stress up to 100 kPa. A small area towards the south-western part of the study area
Glacier Stress Pattern as an Indicator for Climate Change