Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery
ABSTRACT Icebergs calved from tidewater glaciers represent about one third to one half of the freshwater flux from the Greenland ice sheet to the surrounding ocean. Using multiple satellite datasets, we quantify the first fjord-wide distributions of iceberg sizes and characteristics for three fjords...
Published in: | Annals of Glaciology |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2017.5 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0260305517000052 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/aog.2017.5 2024-09-15T17:39:52+00:00 Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery Sulak, Daniel J. Sutherland, David A. Enderlin, Ellyn M. Stearns, Leigh A. Hamilton, Gordon S. 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2017.5 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0260305517000052 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Annals of Glaciology volume 58, issue 74, page 92-106 ISSN 0260-3055 1727-5644 journal-article 2017 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2017.5 2024-07-10T04:04:34Z ABSTRACT Icebergs calved from tidewater glaciers represent about one third to one half of the freshwater flux from the Greenland ice sheet to the surrounding ocean. Using multiple satellite datasets, we quantify the first fjord-wide distributions of iceberg sizes and characteristics for three fjords with distinct hydrography and geometry: Sermilik Fjord, Rink Isbræ Fjord and Kangerlussuup Sermia Fjord. We estimate average total iceberg volumes in summer in the three fjords to be 6.4 ± 1.5, 1.7 ± 0.40 and 0.16 ± 0.09 km 3 , respectively. Iceberg properties are influenced by glacier calving style and grounding line depth, with variations in size distribution represented by exponents of power law distributions that are −1.95 ± 0.06, −1.87 ± 0.05 and −1.62 ± 0.04, respectively. The underwater surface area of icebergs exceeds the subsurface area of glacial termini by at least one order of magnitude in all three fjords, underscoring the need to include iceberg melt in fjord freshwater budgets. Indeed, in Sermilik Fjord, we calculate summertime freshwater flux from iceberg melt of 620 m 3 s −1 (±140 m 3 s −1 ), similar in magnitude to subglacial discharge. The method developed here can be extended across Greenland to assess relationships between glacier calving, iceberg discharge and freshwater production. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology glacier Greenland greenlandic Ice Sheet Sermilik Tidewater Cambridge University Press Annals of Glaciology 58 74 92 106 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
ABSTRACT Icebergs calved from tidewater glaciers represent about one third to one half of the freshwater flux from the Greenland ice sheet to the surrounding ocean. Using multiple satellite datasets, we quantify the first fjord-wide distributions of iceberg sizes and characteristics for three fjords with distinct hydrography and geometry: Sermilik Fjord, Rink Isbræ Fjord and Kangerlussuup Sermia Fjord. We estimate average total iceberg volumes in summer in the three fjords to be 6.4 ± 1.5, 1.7 ± 0.40 and 0.16 ± 0.09 km 3 , respectively. Iceberg properties are influenced by glacier calving style and grounding line depth, with variations in size distribution represented by exponents of power law distributions that are −1.95 ± 0.06, −1.87 ± 0.05 and −1.62 ± 0.04, respectively. The underwater surface area of icebergs exceeds the subsurface area of glacial termini by at least one order of magnitude in all three fjords, underscoring the need to include iceberg melt in fjord freshwater budgets. Indeed, in Sermilik Fjord, we calculate summertime freshwater flux from iceberg melt of 620 m 3 s −1 (±140 m 3 s −1 ), similar in magnitude to subglacial discharge. The method developed here can be extended across Greenland to assess relationships between glacier calving, iceberg discharge and freshwater production. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sulak, Daniel J. Sutherland, David A. Enderlin, Ellyn M. Stearns, Leigh A. Hamilton, Gordon S. |
spellingShingle |
Sulak, Daniel J. Sutherland, David A. Enderlin, Ellyn M. Stearns, Leigh A. Hamilton, Gordon S. Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery |
author_facet |
Sulak, Daniel J. Sutherland, David A. Enderlin, Ellyn M. Stearns, Leigh A. Hamilton, Gordon S. |
author_sort |
Sulak, Daniel J. |
title |
Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery |
title_short |
Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery |
title_full |
Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery |
title_fullStr |
Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery |
title_full_unstemmed |
Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery |
title_sort |
iceberg properties and distributions in three greenlandic fjords using satellite imagery |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2017.5 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0260305517000052 |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology glacier Greenland greenlandic Ice Sheet Sermilik Tidewater |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology glacier Greenland greenlandic Ice Sheet Sermilik Tidewater |
op_source |
Annals of Glaciology volume 58, issue 74, page 92-106 ISSN 0260-3055 1727-5644 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2017.5 |
container_title |
Annals of Glaciology |
container_volume |
58 |
container_issue |
74 |
container_start_page |
92 |
op_container_end_page |
106 |
_version_ |
1810483146481729536 |