Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of a Glacier-Permafrost System in Spitsbergen, Implications for Subglacial Hydrology

• Main Authors: Roux, R., Grenier, C., Marlin, C., Delangle, E., Saintenoy, Albane, Friedt, J.-M., Griselin, M.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement Gif-sur-Yvette (LSCE), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174) (FEMTO-ST), Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2012
• Subjects: Permafrost; Numerical modeling; Glacier-Permafrost interaction; Glacial Hydrology; [SPI.TRON]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Electronics; permafrost; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00776740; https://hal.science/hal-00776740/document; https://hal.science/hal-00776740/file/Roux2012.pdf

International audience Within the framework of climate change, a small polar glacierized watershed was monitored. Field surveys show winter discharges causing large icings. A 2D modeling approach along the main axis of the system is developed to study the evolution of the glacier-bed system. Two codes are chained (one for the glacier and one for the porous media). Results confirm that the glacier is polythermal with a cold based terminus. Its rapid retreat (20 m.a -1 ) should lead to a cold glacier within decades to a century. Simulations show that permafrost development precedes glacier retreat (thin glacier tongue with -5°C mean annual air temperatures measured at Ny Alesund) while in the mountainous part with a somewhat stable glacier position, permafrost could develop over longer times and extend deep. The unfrozen porous medium extension below the glacier will progressively reduce resulting in the disappearance of winter discharges most probably within this century.