Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour
Abstract It is commonly asserted that there are two distinct classes of glacier surges: slow, long-duration ‘Svalbard-type’ surges, triggered by a transition from cold- to warm-based conditions (thermal switching), and fast, shorter-duration ‘Alaska-type’ surges triggered by a reorganisation of the...
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/aog.2023.23 2024-09-15T17:39:53+00:00 Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour Benn, Douglas I. Hewitt, Ian J. Luckman, Adrian J. 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S026030552300023X en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Annals of Glaciology volume 63, issue 87-89, page 88-94 ISSN 0260-3055 1727-5644 journal-article 2022 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 2024-09-04T04:03:59Z Abstract It is commonly asserted that there are two distinct classes of glacier surges: slow, long-duration ‘Svalbard-type’ surges, triggered by a transition from cold- to warm-based conditions (thermal switching), and fast, shorter-duration ‘Alaska-type’ surges triggered by a reorganisation of the basal drainage system (hydraulic switching). This classification, however, reflects neither the diversity of surges in Svalbard and Alaska (and other regions), nor the fundamental dynamic processes underlying all surges. We argue that enthalpy balance theory offers a framework for understanding the spectrum of glacier surging behaviours while emphasising their essential dynamic unity. In this paper, we summarise enthalpy balance theory, illustrate its potential to explain so-called ‘Svalbard-type’ and ‘Alaska-type’ surges using a single set of principles, and show examples of a much wider range of glacier surge behaviour than previously observed. We then identify some future directions for research, including strategies for testing predictions of the theory against field and remote sensing data, and priorities for numerical model development. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology glacier glacier Svalbard Alaska Cambridge University Press Annals of Glaciology 1 7 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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English |
description |
Abstract It is commonly asserted that there are two distinct classes of glacier surges: slow, long-duration ‘Svalbard-type’ surges, triggered by a transition from cold- to warm-based conditions (thermal switching), and fast, shorter-duration ‘Alaska-type’ surges triggered by a reorganisation of the basal drainage system (hydraulic switching). This classification, however, reflects neither the diversity of surges in Svalbard and Alaska (and other regions), nor the fundamental dynamic processes underlying all surges. We argue that enthalpy balance theory offers a framework for understanding the spectrum of glacier surging behaviours while emphasising their essential dynamic unity. In this paper, we summarise enthalpy balance theory, illustrate its potential to explain so-called ‘Svalbard-type’ and ‘Alaska-type’ surges using a single set of principles, and show examples of a much wider range of glacier surge behaviour than previously observed. We then identify some future directions for research, including strategies for testing predictions of the theory against field and remote sensing data, and priorities for numerical model development. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Benn, Douglas I. Hewitt, Ian J. Luckman, Adrian J. |
spellingShingle |
Benn, Douglas I. Hewitt, Ian J. Luckman, Adrian J. Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
author_facet |
Benn, Douglas I. Hewitt, Ian J. Luckman, Adrian J. |
author_sort |
Benn, Douglas I. |
title |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_short |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_full |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_fullStr |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_full_unstemmed |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_sort |
enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S026030552300023X |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology glacier glacier Svalbard Alaska |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology glacier glacier Svalbard Alaska |
op_source |
Annals of Glaciology volume 63, issue 87-89, page 88-94 ISSN 0260-3055 1727-5644 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 |
container_title |
Annals of Glaciology |
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1 |
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7 |
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1810483243110105088 |