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

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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: ROUX, R., GRENIER, C., MARLIN, C., DELANGLE, E., SAINTENOY, Albane, FRIEDT, J.-M., GRISELIN, M.
Format: Other/Unknown Material
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Permafrost
Numerical modeling
Glacier-Permafrost interaction
Glacial Hydrology
Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]/Electronique
permafrost
Spitsbergen
Online Access:https://oskar-bordeaux.fr/handle/20.500.12278/37321
Description
Summary: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.

Similar Items