Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour
It is commonly asserted that there are two distinct classes of glacier surges: slow, long-duration ‘Svalbard-type’ surges, triggered by a transition from cold- to warm-based conditions (thermal switching), and fast, shorter-duration ‘Alaska-type’ surges triggered by a reorganisation of the basal dra...
Published in: | Annals of Glaciology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 https://doaj.org/article/8146f047d2c541559d14562faaac9042 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:8146f047d2c541559d14562faaac9042 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:8146f047d2c541559d14562faaac9042 2023-11-12T04:01:26+01:00 Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour Douglas I. Benn Ian J. Hewitt Adrian J. Luckman 2022-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 https://doaj.org/article/8146f047d2c541559d14562faaac9042 EN eng Cambridge University Press https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S026030552300023X/type/journal_article https://doaj.org/toc/0260-3055 https://doaj.org/toc/1727-5644 doi:10.1017/aog.2023.23 0260-3055 1727-5644 https://doaj.org/article/8146f047d2c541559d14562faaac9042 Annals of Glaciology, Vol 63, Pp 88-94 (2022) Glacier modelling glacier surges subglacial processes Meteorology. Climatology QC851-999 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 2023-10-15T00:35:59Z It is commonly asserted that there are two distinct classes of glacier surges: slow, long-duration ‘Svalbard-type’ surges, triggered by a transition from cold- to warm-based conditions (thermal switching), and fast, shorter-duration ‘Alaska-type’ surges triggered by a reorganisation of the basal drainage system (hydraulic switching). This classification, however, reflects neither the diversity of surges in Svalbard and Alaska (and other regions), nor the fundamental dynamic processes underlying all surges. We argue that enthalpy balance theory offers a framework for understanding the spectrum of glacier surging behaviours while emphasising their essential dynamic unity. In this paper, we summarise enthalpy balance theory, illustrate its potential to explain so-called ‘Svalbard-type’ and ‘Alaska-type’ surges using a single set of principles, and show examples of a much wider range of glacier surge behaviour than previously observed. We then identify some future directions for research, including strategies for testing predictions of the theory against field and remote sensing data, and priorities for numerical model development. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology glacier glacier Svalbard Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Svalbard Annals of Glaciology 1 7 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Glacier modelling glacier surges subglacial processes Meteorology. Climatology QC851-999 |
spellingShingle |
Glacier modelling glacier surges subglacial processes Meteorology. Climatology QC851-999 Douglas I. Benn Ian J. Hewitt Adrian J. Luckman Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
topic_facet |
Glacier modelling glacier surges subglacial processes Meteorology. Climatology QC851-999 |
description |
It is commonly asserted that there are two distinct classes of glacier surges: slow, long-duration ‘Svalbard-type’ surges, triggered by a transition from cold- to warm-based conditions (thermal switching), and fast, shorter-duration ‘Alaska-type’ surges triggered by a reorganisation of the basal drainage system (hydraulic switching). This classification, however, reflects neither the diversity of surges in Svalbard and Alaska (and other regions), nor the fundamental dynamic processes underlying all surges. We argue that enthalpy balance theory offers a framework for understanding the spectrum of glacier surging behaviours while emphasising their essential dynamic unity. In this paper, we summarise enthalpy balance theory, illustrate its potential to explain so-called ‘Svalbard-type’ and ‘Alaska-type’ surges using a single set of principles, and show examples of a much wider range of glacier surge behaviour than previously observed. We then identify some future directions for research, including strategies for testing predictions of the theory against field and remote sensing data, and priorities for numerical model development. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Douglas I. Benn Ian J. Hewitt Adrian J. Luckman |
author_facet |
Douglas I. Benn Ian J. Hewitt Adrian J. Luckman |
author_sort |
Douglas I. Benn |
title |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_short |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_full |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_fullStr |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_full_unstemmed |
Enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
title_sort |
enthalpy balance theory unifies diverse glacier surge behaviour |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 https://doaj.org/article/8146f047d2c541559d14562faaac9042 |
geographic |
Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Svalbard |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology glacier glacier Svalbard Alaska |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology glacier glacier Svalbard Alaska |
op_source |
Annals of Glaciology, Vol 63, Pp 88-94 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S026030552300023X/type/journal_article https://doaj.org/toc/0260-3055 https://doaj.org/toc/1727-5644 doi:10.1017/aog.2023.23 0260-3055 1727-5644 https://doaj.org/article/8146f047d2c541559d14562faaac9042 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.23 |
container_title |
Annals of Glaciology |
container_start_page |
1 |
op_container_end_page |
7 |
_version_ |
1782332548443013120 |