FLOW OF SALT GLACIERS

The flow of salt glaciers is investigated. On the basis of data extracted from published sources, order of magnitude estimates (and probable upper and lower limits) for the stress and strain rate in a salt glacier in Iran are determined. The estimate of strain rate is much larger (by a factor of ∼108) than strain rates predicted by previously investigated flow mechanisms for halite (i.e., Nabarro‐Herring creep and dislocation climb) at the stress estimated. The observed stress and strain rate can better be explained as creep due to the diffusion of ions through an interstitial salt‐water solution. Copyright 1979 by the American Geophysical Union.