Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling
Understanding the drivers of recent change at Greenlandic tidewater glaciers is of great importance if we are to predict how these glaciers will respond to climatic warming. A poorly constrained component of tidewater glacier processes is the near-terminus subglacial hydrology. Here we present a nov...
Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
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Cambridge University Press
2017
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Online Access: | https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/1/Slater%20et%20al%202017%20Spatially%20distributed%20runoff%20at%20the%20grounding%20line%20of%20a%20large%20Greenlandic%20tidewater%20glacier%20inferred%20from%20plume%20modelling.pdf https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.139 |
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ftleedsuniv:oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:117198 2023-05-15T16:21:20+02:00 Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling Slater, D. Nienow, P. Sole, A. Cowton, T. Mottram, R. Langen, P. Mair, D. 2017-04 text https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/1/Slater%20et%20al%202017%20Spatially%20distributed%20runoff%20at%20the%20grounding%20line%20of%20a%20large%20Greenlandic%20tidewater%20glacier%20inferred%20from%20plume%20modelling.pdf https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.139 en eng Cambridge University Press https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/1/Slater%20et%20al%202017%20Spatially%20distributed%20runoff%20at%20the%20grounding%20line%20of%20a%20large%20Greenlandic%20tidewater%20glacier%20inferred%20from%20plume%20modelling.pdf Slater, D., Nienow, P., Sole, A. et al. (4 more authors) (2017) Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling. Journal of Glaciology, 63 (238). pp. 309-323. ISSN 0022-1430 cc_by_4 CC-BY Article PeerReviewed 2017 ftleedsuniv https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.139 2023-01-30T21:55:32Z Understanding the drivers of recent change at Greenlandic tidewater glaciers is of great importance if we are to predict how these glaciers will respond to climatic warming. A poorly constrained component of tidewater glacier processes is the near-terminus subglacial hydrology. Here we present a novel method for constraining near-terminus subglacial hydrology with application to marine-terminating Kangiata Nunata Sermia in South-west Greenland. By simulating proglacial plume dynamics using buoyant plume theory and a general circulation model, we assess the critical subglacial discharge, if delivered through a single compact channel, required to generate a plume that reaches the fjord surface. We then compare catchment runoff to a time series of plume visibility acquired from a time-lapse camera. We identify extended periods throughout the 2009 melt season where catchment runoff significantly exceeds the discharge required for a plume to reach the fjord surface, yet we observe no plume. We attribute these observations to spatial spreading of runoff across the grounding line. Persistent distributed drainage near the terminus would lead to more spatially homogeneous submarine melting and may promote more rapid basal sliding during warmer summers, potentially providing a mechanism independent of ocean forcing for increases in atmospheric temperature to drive tidewater glacier acceleration. Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier Greenland greenlandic Journal of Glaciology Tidewater White Rose Research Online (Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York) Greenland Journal of Glaciology 63 238 309 323 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
White Rose Research Online (Universities of Leeds, Sheffield & York) |
op_collection_id |
ftleedsuniv |
language |
English |
description |
Understanding the drivers of recent change at Greenlandic tidewater glaciers is of great importance if we are to predict how these glaciers will respond to climatic warming. A poorly constrained component of tidewater glacier processes is the near-terminus subglacial hydrology. Here we present a novel method for constraining near-terminus subglacial hydrology with application to marine-terminating Kangiata Nunata Sermia in South-west Greenland. By simulating proglacial plume dynamics using buoyant plume theory and a general circulation model, we assess the critical subglacial discharge, if delivered through a single compact channel, required to generate a plume that reaches the fjord surface. We then compare catchment runoff to a time series of plume visibility acquired from a time-lapse camera. We identify extended periods throughout the 2009 melt season where catchment runoff significantly exceeds the discharge required for a plume to reach the fjord surface, yet we observe no plume. We attribute these observations to spatial spreading of runoff across the grounding line. Persistent distributed drainage near the terminus would lead to more spatially homogeneous submarine melting and may promote more rapid basal sliding during warmer summers, potentially providing a mechanism independent of ocean forcing for increases in atmospheric temperature to drive tidewater glacier acceleration. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Slater, D. Nienow, P. Sole, A. Cowton, T. Mottram, R. Langen, P. Mair, D. |
spellingShingle |
Slater, D. Nienow, P. Sole, A. Cowton, T. Mottram, R. Langen, P. Mair, D. Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling |
author_facet |
Slater, D. Nienow, P. Sole, A. Cowton, T. Mottram, R. Langen, P. Mair, D. |
author_sort |
Slater, D. |
title |
Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling |
title_short |
Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling |
title_full |
Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling |
title_fullStr |
Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling |
title_sort |
spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/ https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/1/Slater%20et%20al%202017%20Spatially%20distributed%20runoff%20at%20the%20grounding%20line%20of%20a%20large%20Greenlandic%20tidewater%20glacier%20inferred%20from%20plume%20modelling.pdf https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.139 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
glacier Greenland greenlandic Journal of Glaciology Tidewater |
genre_facet |
glacier Greenland greenlandic Journal of Glaciology Tidewater |
op_relation |
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117198/1/Slater%20et%20al%202017%20Spatially%20distributed%20runoff%20at%20the%20grounding%20line%20of%20a%20large%20Greenlandic%20tidewater%20glacier%20inferred%20from%20plume%20modelling.pdf Slater, D., Nienow, P., Sole, A. et al. (4 more authors) (2017) Spatially distributed runoff at the grounding line of a large Greenlandic tidewater glacier inferred from plume modelling. Journal of Glaciology, 63 (238). pp. 309-323. ISSN 0022-1430 |
op_rights |
cc_by_4 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.139 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
63 |
container_issue |
238 |
container_start_page |
309 |
op_container_end_page |
323 |
_version_ |
1766009347413901312 |