Permanent fast flow versus cyclic surge behaviour: numerical simulations of the Austfonna ice cap, Svalbard

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Dunse, Thorben, Greve, Ralf, Schuler, Thomas Vikhamar, Hagen, Jon Ove
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: International Glaciological Society
• Subjects: Austfonna; Ice cap; Surge; Oscillation; Modelling; 450; Svalbard; glacier; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2115/47983; https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311796405979

A large part of the ice flux within ice caps occurs through spatially limited fast-flowing units. Some of them permanently maintain fast flow, whereas others operate in an oscillatory mode, characterized by short-lived active phases followed by long quiescent phases. This surge-type behaviour results from intrinsic rather than external factors, thus complicating estimates of glacier response to climate change. Here we present numerical model results from Austfonna, an ice cap on Svalbard that comprises several surge-type basins. Previous studies have suggested a thermally controlled soft-bed surge mechanism for Svalbard. We systematically change the parameters that govern the nature of basal motion and thereby control the transition between permanent and oscillatory fast flow. Surge-type behaviour is realized by a relatively abrupt onset of basal sliding when basal temperatures approach the pressure-melting point and enhanced sliding of marine grounded ice. Irrespective of the dynamic regime, the absence of considerable volumes of temperate ice, both in the observed and simulated ice cap, indicates that fast flow is accomplished by basal motion over a temperate bed. Given an idealized present-day climate, the equilibrium ice-cap size varies significantly, depending on the chosen parameters.