Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland
Over the past two decades Iceland's glaciers have been undergoing a phase of accelerated retreat set against a backdrop of warmer summers and milder winters. This paper demonstrates how the dynamics of a steep outlet glacier in maritime SE Iceland have changed as it adjusts to recent significan...
Published in: | Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface |
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Online Access: | http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/1/jgrf20321.pdf https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165 |
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:508820 2023-05-15T16:21:37+02:00 Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland Phillips, Emrys Finlayson, Andrew Bradwell, Tom Everest, Jez Jones, Lee 2014 text http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/1/jgrf20321.pdf https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165 en eng Wiley https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/1/jgrf20321.pdf Phillips, Emrys; Finlayson, Andrew; Bradwell, Tom; Everest, Jez; Jones, Lee. 2014 Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 119 (10). 2194-2208. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165 <https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165> cc_by CC-BY Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2014 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165 2023-02-04T19:40:31Z Over the past two decades Iceland's glaciers have been undergoing a phase of accelerated retreat set against a backdrop of warmer summers and milder winters. This paper demonstrates how the dynamics of a steep outlet glacier in maritime SE Iceland have changed as it adjusts to recent significant changes in mass balance. Geomorphological evidence from Falljökull, a high-mass turnover temperate glacier, clearly shows that between 1990 and 2004 the ice front was undergoing active retreat resulting in seasonal oscillations of its margin. However, in 2004–2006 this glacier crossed an important dynamic threshold and effectively reduced its active length by abandoning its lower reaches to passive retreat processes. A combination of ice surface structural measurements with radar, lidar, and differential Global Navigation Satellite Systems data are used to show that the upper active section of Falljökull is still flowing forward but has become detached from and is being thrust over its stagnant lower section. The reduction in the active length of Falljökull over the last several years has allowed it to rapidly reequilibrate to regional snowline rise in SE Iceland over the past two decades. It is possible that other steep, mountain glaciers around the world may respond in a similar way to significant changes in their mass balance, rapidly adjusting their active length in response to recent atmospheric warming. Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier Iceland Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Falljökull ENVELOPE(-16.770,-16.770,63.976,63.976) Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 119 10 2194 2208 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
English |
description |
Over the past two decades Iceland's glaciers have been undergoing a phase of accelerated retreat set against a backdrop of warmer summers and milder winters. This paper demonstrates how the dynamics of a steep outlet glacier in maritime SE Iceland have changed as it adjusts to recent significant changes in mass balance. Geomorphological evidence from Falljökull, a high-mass turnover temperate glacier, clearly shows that between 1990 and 2004 the ice front was undergoing active retreat resulting in seasonal oscillations of its margin. However, in 2004–2006 this glacier crossed an important dynamic threshold and effectively reduced its active length by abandoning its lower reaches to passive retreat processes. A combination of ice surface structural measurements with radar, lidar, and differential Global Navigation Satellite Systems data are used to show that the upper active section of Falljökull is still flowing forward but has become detached from and is being thrust over its stagnant lower section. The reduction in the active length of Falljökull over the last several years has allowed it to rapidly reequilibrate to regional snowline rise in SE Iceland over the past two decades. It is possible that other steep, mountain glaciers around the world may respond in a similar way to significant changes in their mass balance, rapidly adjusting their active length in response to recent atmospheric warming. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Phillips, Emrys Finlayson, Andrew Bradwell, Tom Everest, Jez Jones, Lee |
spellingShingle |
Phillips, Emrys Finlayson, Andrew Bradwell, Tom Everest, Jez Jones, Lee Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland |
author_facet |
Phillips, Emrys Finlayson, Andrew Bradwell, Tom Everest, Jez Jones, Lee |
author_sort |
Phillips, Emrys |
title |
Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland |
title_short |
Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland |
title_full |
Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland |
title_fullStr |
Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland |
title_sort |
structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from falljökull, se iceland |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/1/jgrf20321.pdf https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-16.770,-16.770,63.976,63.976) |
geographic |
Falljökull |
geographic_facet |
Falljökull |
genre |
glacier Iceland |
genre_facet |
glacier Iceland |
op_relation |
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508820/1/jgrf20321.pdf Phillips, Emrys; Finlayson, Andrew; Bradwell, Tom; Everest, Jez; Jones, Lee. 2014 Structural evolution triggers a dynamic reduction in active glacier length during rapid retreat: evidence from Falljökull, SE Iceland. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 119 (10). 2194-2208. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165 <https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165> |
op_rights |
cc_by |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003165 |
container_title |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface |
container_volume |
119 |
container_issue |
10 |
container_start_page |
2194 |
op_container_end_page |
2208 |
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1766009626828996608 |