期刊
NATURE GEOSCIENCE
卷 9, 期 5, 页码 370-+出版社
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/NGEO2696
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资金
- Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme [223259]
- PetroMaks project 'Glaciations in the Barents Sea area, GlaciBar' [200672]
- European Commission FP7-People-Initial Training Networks 'Glaciated North Atlantic Margins, GLANAM' [317217]
- Natural Environment Research Council [NE/H024204/1, NE/G010595/1, NE/G005796/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- NERC [NE/H024204/1, NE/G005796/1, NE/G010595/1] Funding Source: UKRI
Variations in the flow of ice streams and outlet glaciers are a primary control on ice sheet stability, yet comprehensive understanding of the key processes operating at the ice-bed interface remains elusive. Basal resistance is critical, especially sticky spots-localized zones of high basal traction-for maintaining force balance in an otherwise well-lubricated/high-slip subglacial environment(1). Here we consider the influence of subglacial gas-hydrate formation on ice stream dynamics, and its potential to initiate and maintain sticky spots. Geophysical data document the geologic footprint of a major palaeo-ice-stream that drained the Barents Sea-Fennoscandian ice sheet approximately 20,000 years ago. Our results reveal a similar to 250 km(2) sticky spot that coincided with subsurface shallow gas accumulations, seafloor fluid expulsion and a fault complex associated with deep hydrocarbon reservoirs. We propose that gas migrating from these reservoirs formed hydrates under high-pressure, low-temperature subglacial conditions. The gas hydrate desiccated, stiffened and thereby strengthened the subglacial sediments, promoting high traction-a sticky spot-that regulated ice stream flow. Deep hydrocarbon reservoirs are common beneath past and contemporary glaciated areas, implying that gas-hydrate regulation of subglacial dynamics could be a widespread phenomenon.
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