Calving event size measurements and statistics of Eqip Sermia, Greenland, from terrestrial radar interferometry ...

• Main Authors: Walter, Andrea, Lüthi, Martin P., Vieli, Andreas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: ETH Zurich 2020
• Subjects: glacier; Greenland; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000408092; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/408092

Calving is a crucial process for the recently observed dynamic mass loss changes of the Greenland ice sheet. Despite its importance for global sea level change, major limitations in understanding the process of calving remain. This study presents high-resolution calving event data and statistics recorded with a terrestrial radar interferometer at the front of Eqip Sermia, a marine-terminating outlet glacier in Greenland. The derived digital elevation models with a spatial resolution of several metres recorded at 1 min intervals were processed to provide source areas and volumes of 906 individual calving events during a 6 d period. The calving front can be divided into sectors ending in shallow and deep water with different calving statistics and styles. For the shallow sector, characterized by an inclined and very high front, calving events are more frequent and larger than for the vertical ice cliff of the deep sector. We suggest that the calving volume deficiency of 90 % relative to the estimated ice flux ... : The Cryosphere, 14 (3) ...