Lake Missoula (2500 km3) remained sealed as long as any segment of the glacial dam remained grounded; when the lake rose to a critical level c.600 m in depth, the glacier bed at the seal became buoyant, initiating underflow from the lake. Subglacial tunnels then grew exponentially, leading to catastrophic discharge. Calculations of the water budget for the lake basin (including input from the Cordilleran ice sheet) suggest that the lake filled every three to seven decades. -from Author
Additional publication details
Publication type:
Article
Publication Subtype:
Journal Article
Title:
Case for periodic, colossal jokulhlaups from Pleistocene glacial Lake Missoula.
