Brief communication: Heterogenous thinning and subglacial lake activity on Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica

A system of subglacial lakes drained on Thwaites Glacier from 2012–2014. To improve coverage for subsequent drainage events, we extended the elevation and ice-velocity time series on Thwaites Glacier through austral winter 2019. These new observations document a second drainage cycle in 2017/18 and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Cryosphere
Main Authors: Hoffman, Andrew O., Christianson, Knut, Shapero, Daniel, Smith, Benjamin E., Joughin, Ian
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2020
Subjects:
Austral
New Lake
Thwaites Glacier
West Antarctica
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4603-2020
https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/14/4603/2020/
Description
Summary:A system of subglacial lakes drained on Thwaites Glacier from 2012–2014. To improve coverage for subsequent drainage events, we extended the elevation and ice-velocity time series on Thwaites Glacier through austral winter 2019. These new observations document a second drainage cycle in 2017/18 and identified two new lake systems located in the western tributaries of Thwaites and Haynes glaciers. In situ and satellite velocity observations show temporary < 3 % speed fluctuations associated with lake drainages. In agreement with previous studies, these observations suggest that active subglacial hydrology has little influence on thinning and retreat of Thwaites Glacier on decadal to centennial timescales.

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