Abstract: Subglacial topography is an important indicator that both reflects and itself influences subglacial conditions and processes of the Antarctic ice sheet. Ice sheet dynamics and basal erosional processes erode pre-glacial topography. As such, bedrock roughness metrics can act as indicators of subglacial conditions and processes (including spatial variability thereof). More specifically, bedrock roughness data can help deduce the material composition of the bedrock, the conditions of sub-glacial erosion and basal sliding, ice dynamics, and subglacial geomorphology. In this study, the potential utility of bedrock roughness characterization and the development of associated quantitative methods are introduced. We focus on the evolution of two methods, one is based on the statistical characteristics of the topography-derived (topographic) roughness and the other is the scattering-derived roughness. Then, relevant studies on subglacial conditions and ice sheet evolution using bedrock roughness were reviewed by evaluating the relationship between bedrock roughness and ice dynamics, subglacial geomorphology, basal thermal mechanism, subglacial geology, and so forth. Finally, the current situation and future potential developments around the study subglacial conditions and processes using bedrock roughness are considered.

Key words: bed roughness, Antarctic ice sheet, subglacial topography, subglacial conditions, ice dynamics