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Stage 3: Piedmont Flow


data
Location of Data Points used in
Phase 3 Analyses
Velocity
Like in transition flow, velocity in piedmont flow is centered just above the valley-to-plain transition, with deceleration at the toe on the flat continental plain and towards the walls.  Note that velocity contours parallel the banding in the Flubber.  The density of data points is much higher in the piedmont flow analyses than in the transition flow due to the addition of  markers (see figure to left).  The large region of uniform velocity near the toe is well contrained by data points.
Lateral
Compression/Tension
Longitudinal
Compression/Tension

Shear Strain Rate
Large blue area shows a region of extension due to lateral spreading of the glacier to fill space between the walls on the continental plain.  This extension is an order of magnitude lower than extension during the valley-piedmont transition because the Flubber is confined by the side walls.  Red areas show regions of compression where the expanding glacier meets the side walls, although knoting of the contours in these areas suggest that they may not be reliable.
Area of compression (red) at the mouth of the valley is due to a decrease in the y-component of velocity as the glacier moves to the lower surface slope of the continental plain.  Two regions of extension (blue) along the side walls have created folds in the x-y plane similar to those observed on the Malaspina.
The shear strain still shows oppositely oriented shear due to drag along the walls with minimal shear along the center axis.  Note that the shear strain fields are deteriorating as the Flubber moves onto the continental plain.
Dilatation
Vorticity
Low dilatation during piedmont flow as observed for valley and transition flow.
Continued clockwise and counterclockwise rotation along the left- and right-hand walls, respectfully, as was observed in valley and transition flow.  Vorticity at the right-hand corner, in particular, is well contrained by data points.

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 Transition Flow

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Valley Flow

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