Size, shape and spatial arrangement of mega‐scale glacial lineations from a large and diverse dataset

摘要: Mega-scale glacial lineations (MSGLs) are a characteristic landform on ice stream beds. Solving the puzzle of their formation is key to understanding how interacts with its bed and this, in turn, influences dynamics streams. However, comprehensive detailed characterization this landform's size, shape spatial arrangement, which might serve test refine formational theories, largely lacking. This paper presents morphometric analysis comparison 4043 MSGLs from eight palaeo-ice settings: three offshore (Norway Antarctica), four onshore (Canada), one under modern West Antarctica. The length lower than previously suggested (mode 1000–2000 m; median 2892 m), they initiate terminate at various locations an bed. Their arrangement reveals pattern that characterized by exceptional parallel conformity (80% all mapped have azimuth within 5° mean values), fairly constant lateral spacing 200–300 m; 330 m), we interpret as indication spatially self-organized phenomenon. Results show consistent both also generally between different We suggest results common mechanism formation, insensitive local factors. Although elongation 6–8; 12.2) typically higher features described drumlins, these values those width 100–200 m; 268 m) overlap, suggests two landforms part morphological continuum may share similar origin. compare morphometry explicit predictions made groove-ploughing rilling instability theories MSGL formation. latter was most compatible, neither fully supported observations. © 2014 Authors. Earth Surface Processes Landforms Published John Wiley & Sons Ltd.