Videos of Basal Ice in Boreholes on the Kamb Ice Stream in West Antarctica

Ice streams are an expression of the inherent instability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, and their behavior is a key control on the overall ice-sheet mass balance. Understanding the response of the ice sheet in a warming climate requires a thorough understanding of the internal dynamics of ice streams, in addition to the relevant ice-atmosphere and ice-ocean interactions in the region.

The basal environment of the ice streams and of many glaciers is a key scientific interest, including conditions, mainly basal sliding, that lead to fast flow of the ice. The purpose of this data set is to present a review of the full range of original video recordings from the basal ice of the Kamb Ice Stream. Direct observations at the ice-stream bed are a crucial complement to modeling efforts predicting future scenarios in a warming climate.