Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK
ABSTRACT To explore links between glacier dynamics, sediment yields and the accumulation of glacial sediments in a temperate setting, we use extensive glaciological observations for Columbia Glacier, Alaska, and new oceanographic data from the fjord exposed during its retreat. High-resolution seismi...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.67 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143016000678 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/jog.2016.67 2024-09-09T19:41:11+00:00 Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK BOLDT LOVE, KATHERINE HALLET, BERNARD PRATT, THOMAS L. O'NEEL, SHAD 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.67 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143016000678 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Journal of Glaciology volume 62, issue 234, page 778-793 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 journal-article 2016 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.67 2024-06-19T04:04:25Z ABSTRACT To explore links between glacier dynamics, sediment yields and the accumulation of glacial sediments in a temperate setting, we use extensive glaciological observations for Columbia Glacier, Alaska, and new oceanographic data from the fjord exposed during its retreat. High-resolution seismic data indicate that 3.2 × 10 8 m 3 of sediment has accumulated in Columbia Fjord over the past three decades, which corresponds to ~5 mm a −1 of erosion averaged over the glaciated area. We develop a general model to infer the sediment-flux history from the glacier that is compatible with the observed retreat history, and the thickness and architecture of the fjord sediment deposits. Results reveal a fivefold increase in sediment flux from 1997 to 2000, which is not correlated with concurrent changes in ice flux or retreat rate. We suggest the flux increase resulted from an increase in the sediment transport capacity of the subglacial hydraulic system due to the retreat-related steepening of the glacier surface over a known subglacial deep basin. Because variations in subglacial sediment storage can impact glacial sediment flux, in addition to changes in climate, erosion rate and glacier dynamics, the interpretation of climatic changes based on the sediment record is more complex than generally assumed. Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier Journal of Glaciology Alaska Cambridge University Press Journal of Glaciology 62 234 778 793 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
ABSTRACT To explore links between glacier dynamics, sediment yields and the accumulation of glacial sediments in a temperate setting, we use extensive glaciological observations for Columbia Glacier, Alaska, and new oceanographic data from the fjord exposed during its retreat. High-resolution seismic data indicate that 3.2 × 10 8 m 3 of sediment has accumulated in Columbia Fjord over the past three decades, which corresponds to ~5 mm a −1 of erosion averaged over the glaciated area. We develop a general model to infer the sediment-flux history from the glacier that is compatible with the observed retreat history, and the thickness and architecture of the fjord sediment deposits. Results reveal a fivefold increase in sediment flux from 1997 to 2000, which is not correlated with concurrent changes in ice flux or retreat rate. We suggest the flux increase resulted from an increase in the sediment transport capacity of the subglacial hydraulic system due to the retreat-related steepening of the glacier surface over a known subglacial deep basin. Because variations in subglacial sediment storage can impact glacial sediment flux, in addition to changes in climate, erosion rate and glacier dynamics, the interpretation of climatic changes based on the sediment record is more complex than generally assumed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
BOLDT LOVE, KATHERINE HALLET, BERNARD PRATT, THOMAS L. O'NEEL, SHAD |
spellingShingle |
BOLDT LOVE, KATHERINE HALLET, BERNARD PRATT, THOMAS L. O'NEEL, SHAD Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK |
author_facet |
BOLDT LOVE, KATHERINE HALLET, BERNARD PRATT, THOMAS L. O'NEEL, SHAD |
author_sort |
BOLDT LOVE, KATHERINE |
title |
Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK |
title_short |
Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK |
title_full |
Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK |
title_fullStr |
Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK |
title_full_unstemmed |
Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK |
title_sort |
observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of columbia glacier, ak |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.67 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143016000678 |
genre |
glacier Journal of Glaciology Alaska |
genre_facet |
glacier Journal of Glaciology Alaska |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 62, issue 234, page 778-793 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.67 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
62 |
container_issue |
234 |
container_start_page |
778 |
op_container_end_page |
793 |
_version_ |
1809910631563788288 |