ABSTRACT
Processes of glacial erosion, debris entrainment and transport, and deposition depend on the behaviour of ice, sediment and rock materials on, within, beneath, around and in front of glaciers. Conditions at the ice/bedrock interface are of critical importance to the operation of glacial processes but, at depth beneath modern glaciers, prove difficult for investigation in comparison with observations that are easily achieved in supraglacial and ice-marginal locations. Experimental laboratory tests of ice sliding over bedrock have been undertaken, with a view to verification of sliding theory determination of frictional and adhesive properties of ice and simulation of glacial erosion. The glacial processes controlling the movement of rock inclusions towards the bed of a temperate glacier were treated theoretically by Rothlisberger. Water level sin boreholes can be measured directly using pressure transducers or membrane gauges, connected to recorders on the glacier surface. Steam, hot-water and electrical thermal ice drills have been designed in addition to rotary, cable-drill and impacting mechanical devices.
