High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet
The geothermal heat flux is a critical thermal boundary condition that influences the melting, flow, and mass balance of ice sheets, but measurements of this parameter are difficult to make in ice-covered regions. We report the first direct measurement of geothermal heat flux into the base of the We...
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ftcdlib:oai:escholarship.org:ark:/13030/qt42g865fb 2023-10-01T03:50:49+02:00 High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Fisher, Andrew T Mankoff, Kenneth D Tulaczyk, Slawek M Tyler, Scott W Foley, Neil Team, and the WISSA Science e1500093 2015-07-03 application/pdf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/42g865fb unknown eScholarship, University of California qt42g865fb https://escholarship.org/uc/item/42g865fb public Science Advances, vol 1, iss 6 WISSARD Science Team Subglacial Lake Whillans WISSARD West Antarctic Ice Sheet cryosphere geothermics heat flux ice stream article 2015 ftcdlib 2023-09-04T18:02:54Z The geothermal heat flux is a critical thermal boundary condition that influences the melting, flow, and mass balance of ice sheets, but measurements of this parameter are difficult to make in ice-covered regions. We report the first direct measurement of geothermal heat flux into the base of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS), below Subglacial Lake Whillans, determined from the thermal gradient and the thermal conductivity of sediment under the lake. The heat flux at this site is 285 ± 80 mW/m(2), significantly higher than the continental and regional averages estimated for this site using regional geophysical and glaciological models. Independent temperature measurements in the ice indicate an upward heat flux through the WAIS of 105 ± 13 mW/m(2). The difference between these heat flux values could contribute to basal melting and/or be advected from Subglacial Lake Whillans by flowing water. The high geothermal heat flux may help to explain why ice streams and subglacial lakes are so abundant and dynamic in this region. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Ice Sheet University of California: eScholarship Antarctic West Antarctic Ice Sheet Whillans ENVELOPE(-64.250,-64.250,-84.450,-84.450) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
ftcdlib |
language |
unknown |
topic |
WISSARD Science Team Subglacial Lake Whillans WISSARD West Antarctic Ice Sheet cryosphere geothermics heat flux ice stream |
spellingShingle |
WISSARD Science Team Subglacial Lake Whillans WISSARD West Antarctic Ice Sheet cryosphere geothermics heat flux ice stream Fisher, Andrew T Mankoff, Kenneth D Tulaczyk, Slawek M Tyler, Scott W Foley, Neil Team, and the WISSA Science High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
topic_facet |
WISSARD Science Team Subglacial Lake Whillans WISSARD West Antarctic Ice Sheet cryosphere geothermics heat flux ice stream |
description |
The geothermal heat flux is a critical thermal boundary condition that influences the melting, flow, and mass balance of ice sheets, but measurements of this parameter are difficult to make in ice-covered regions. We report the first direct measurement of geothermal heat flux into the base of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS), below Subglacial Lake Whillans, determined from the thermal gradient and the thermal conductivity of sediment under the lake. The heat flux at this site is 285 ± 80 mW/m(2), significantly higher than the continental and regional averages estimated for this site using regional geophysical and glaciological models. Independent temperature measurements in the ice indicate an upward heat flux through the WAIS of 105 ± 13 mW/m(2). The difference between these heat flux values could contribute to basal melting and/or be advected from Subglacial Lake Whillans by flowing water. The high geothermal heat flux may help to explain why ice streams and subglacial lakes are so abundant and dynamic in this region. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Fisher, Andrew T Mankoff, Kenneth D Tulaczyk, Slawek M Tyler, Scott W Foley, Neil Team, and the WISSA Science |
author_facet |
Fisher, Andrew T Mankoff, Kenneth D Tulaczyk, Slawek M Tyler, Scott W Foley, Neil Team, and the WISSA Science |
author_sort |
Fisher, Andrew T |
title |
High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_short |
High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_full |
High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_fullStr |
High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_full_unstemmed |
High geothermal heat flux measured below the West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
title_sort |
high geothermal heat flux measured below the west antarctic ice sheet |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/42g865fb |
op_coverage |
e1500093 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-64.250,-64.250,-84.450,-84.450) |
geographic |
Antarctic West Antarctic Ice Sheet Whillans |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic West Antarctic Ice Sheet Whillans |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice Sheet |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice Sheet |
op_source |
Science Advances, vol 1, iss 6 |
op_relation |
qt42g865fb https://escholarship.org/uc/item/42g865fb |
op_rights |
public |
_version_ |
1778528177105141760 |