It was postulated that the movement of water through hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments would result in the dispersal of hydrocarbon-contaminated meltwater downhill towards the sea.
The mobilisation of hydrocarbons combined with meltwater inflow is obviously limited to the brief part of the summer in which liquid water occurs.
During monitoring, emphasis was given to the interaction of contaminated sites with periglacial, meltwater and aeolian processes.
This wide plain consists of an area of grey sandy outwash cut with deep gullies created by glacial meltwater.
Thermoerosion takes place due to energy transported to the lowermost part of the frozen material by means of meltwater.
The figure shows many successful matches on the lower half of the glacier, particularly on the eastern side, all derived from meltwater channels.
Once ice thaws, continued radiation effects can cause mixing of the fuel with meltwater.
They noted a strongly bisected coastline, with inlets reaching towards the ice cap, and numerous meltwater lakes, often without apparent external discharge.