Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions
Although the size-frequency distributions of icebergs can provide insight into how they disintegrate, our understanding of this process is incomplete. Fundamentally, there is a discrepancy between iceberg power-law size-frequency distributions observed at glacial calving fronts and lognormal size-fr...
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ftmickiewiczuni:oai:repozytorium.amu.edu.pl:10593/20679 2023-07-30T04:01:55+02:00 Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions Kirkham, James D. Rosser, Nick J. Wainwright, John Vann Jones, Emma C. Dunning, Stuart A. Lane, Victoria S. Hawthorn, David E. Strzelecki, Mateusz C. Szczuciński, Witold 2017-11 application/pdf application/msword http://hdl.handle.net/10593/20679 eng eng Nature Publishing Group Scientific Reports (2017) vol. 7, article number 15991 2045-2322 http://hdl.handle.net/10593/20679 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess iceberg Greenland seismology glaciology physical oceanography passive seismology iceberg drift iceberg degradation Artykuł 2017 ftmickiewiczuni 2023-07-17T18:28:44Z Although the size-frequency distributions of icebergs can provide insight into how they disintegrate, our understanding of this process is incomplete. Fundamentally, there is a discrepancy between iceberg power-law size-frequency distributions observed at glacial calving fronts and lognormal size-frequency distributions observed globally within open waters that remains unexplained. Here we use passive seismic monitoring to examine mechanisms of iceberg disintegration as a function of drift. Our results indicate that the shift in the size-frequency distribution of iceberg sizes observed is a product of fracture-driven iceberg disintegration and dimensional reductions through melting. We suggest that changes in the characteristic size-frequency scaling of icebergs can be explained by the emergence of a dominant set of driving processes of iceberg degradation towards the open ocean. Consequently, the size-frequency distribution required to model iceberg distributions accurately must vary according to distance from the calving front. The study was supported by Polish National Science Centre grant no. 2011/01/B/ST10/01553. Seismic equipment was provided by the Natural Environment Research Council Geophysical Equipment Facility, SEIS-UK (loan number 984). The modelled tide data for Ilulissat was kindly provided by Palle Bo Nielsen at the Danish Meteorological Institute. Logistical support was provided by Arctic Station, Qeqertarsuaq. Thanks go to Antony Long and Nick Cox for inspiring the ideas that underpin this work. M.C.S. is supported by NCN FUGA Fellowship (2013/08/S/ST10/00585). Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Greenland Iceberg* Ilulissat Qeqertarsuaq AMUR - Adam Mickiewicz University Repository, Poznan Arctic Fuga ENVELOPE(-67.100,-67.100,-68.202,-68.202) Greenland Ilulissat ENVELOPE(-51.099,-51.099,69.220,69.220) Qeqertarsuaq ENVELOPE(-56.867,-56.867,74.400,74.400) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
AMUR - Adam Mickiewicz University Repository, Poznan |
op_collection_id |
ftmickiewiczuni |
language |
English |
topic |
iceberg Greenland seismology glaciology physical oceanography passive seismology iceberg drift iceberg degradation |
spellingShingle |
iceberg Greenland seismology glaciology physical oceanography passive seismology iceberg drift iceberg degradation Kirkham, James D. Rosser, Nick J. Wainwright, John Vann Jones, Emma C. Dunning, Stuart A. Lane, Victoria S. Hawthorn, David E. Strzelecki, Mateusz C. Szczuciński, Witold Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions |
topic_facet |
iceberg Greenland seismology glaciology physical oceanography passive seismology iceberg drift iceberg degradation |
description |
Although the size-frequency distributions of icebergs can provide insight into how they disintegrate, our understanding of this process is incomplete. Fundamentally, there is a discrepancy between iceberg power-law size-frequency distributions observed at glacial calving fronts and lognormal size-frequency distributions observed globally within open waters that remains unexplained. Here we use passive seismic monitoring to examine mechanisms of iceberg disintegration as a function of drift. Our results indicate that the shift in the size-frequency distribution of iceberg sizes observed is a product of fracture-driven iceberg disintegration and dimensional reductions through melting. We suggest that changes in the characteristic size-frequency scaling of icebergs can be explained by the emergence of a dominant set of driving processes of iceberg degradation towards the open ocean. Consequently, the size-frequency distribution required to model iceberg distributions accurately must vary according to distance from the calving front. The study was supported by Polish National Science Centre grant no. 2011/01/B/ST10/01553. Seismic equipment was provided by the Natural Environment Research Council Geophysical Equipment Facility, SEIS-UK (loan number 984). The modelled tide data for Ilulissat was kindly provided by Palle Bo Nielsen at the Danish Meteorological Institute. Logistical support was provided by Arctic Station, Qeqertarsuaq. Thanks go to Antony Long and Nick Cox for inspiring the ideas that underpin this work. M.C.S. is supported by NCN FUGA Fellowship (2013/08/S/ST10/00585). |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kirkham, James D. Rosser, Nick J. Wainwright, John Vann Jones, Emma C. Dunning, Stuart A. Lane, Victoria S. Hawthorn, David E. Strzelecki, Mateusz C. Szczuciński, Witold |
author_facet |
Kirkham, James D. Rosser, Nick J. Wainwright, John Vann Jones, Emma C. Dunning, Stuart A. Lane, Victoria S. Hawthorn, David E. Strzelecki, Mateusz C. Szczuciński, Witold |
author_sort |
Kirkham, James D. |
title |
Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions |
title_short |
Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions |
title_full |
Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions |
title_fullStr |
Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions |
title_sort |
drift-dependent changes in iceberg size-frequency distributions |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10593/20679 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-67.100,-67.100,-68.202,-68.202) ENVELOPE(-51.099,-51.099,69.220,69.220) ENVELOPE(-56.867,-56.867,74.400,74.400) |
geographic |
Arctic Fuga Greenland Ilulissat Qeqertarsuaq |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Fuga Greenland Ilulissat Qeqertarsuaq |
genre |
Arctic Greenland Iceberg* Ilulissat Qeqertarsuaq |
genre_facet |
Arctic Greenland Iceberg* Ilulissat Qeqertarsuaq |
op_relation |
Scientific Reports (2017) vol. 7, article number 15991 2045-2322 http://hdl.handle.net/10593/20679 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
_version_ |
1772812666650230784 |