Rapid response of Helheim Glacier in Greenland to climate variability over the past century

• Main Authors: Camilla S. Andresen, Fiammetta Straneo, Mads Hvid Ribergaard, Anders A. Bjørk, Thorbjørn J. Andersen, Antoon Kuijpers, Niels Nørgaard-pedersen, Kurt H. Kjær, S Schjøth, Kaarina Weckström, Andreas P. Ahlstrøm
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Greenland; East Greenland; glacier; Sermilik
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.353.1552; http://www.whoi.edu/science/PO/people/fstraneo/pdfs/ngeo1349.pdf

the largest ice-mass loss of the instrumental record 1, largely as a result of the acceleration, thinning and retreat of large outlet glaciers in West and southeast Greenland 2–5. The quasi-simultaneous change in the glaciers suggests a common climate forcing. Increasing air 6 and ocean 7,8 temperatures have been indicated as potential triggers. Here, we present a record of calving activity of Helheim Glacier, East Greenland, that extends back to about AD 1890, based on an analysis of sedimentary deposits from Sermilik Fjord, where Helheim Glacier terminates. Specifically, we use the annual deposition of sand grains as a proxy for iceberg discharge. Our record reveals large fluctuations in calving rates, but the present high rate was reproduced only in the 1930s. A comparison with climate indices indicates that high calving activity coincides with a relatively strong influence of