Observed runoff, jokulhlaups and suspended sediment load from the Greenland ice at Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland, 2007 and 2008

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Mernild, Sebastian Haugard, Hasholt, Bent
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: 58; DEGREE DAYS; DRAINAGE; GREENLAND; LAKES; RUNOFF; SEDIMENTS; Greenland; Kangerlussuaq; Dammed Lake; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/971303; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/971303; https://doi.org/10.3189/002214309790152465

This study fills the gap in hydrologic measurements of runoff exiting a part of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS), the Kangerlussuaq drainage area, West Greenland. The observations are of value for obtaining knowledge about the terrestrial freshwater and sediment output from part of the GrIS and the strip of land between the GrIS and the ocean, in the context of varying ice sheet surface melt and influx entering the ocean. High-resolution stage, discharge and suspended sediment load show a decrease in runoff of {approx} 25% and in sediment load of {approx} 40% from 2007 to 2008 in response to a decrease in the summer accumulated number of positive degree days. During the 2007 and 2008 runoff season, joekulhlaups are observed at Kangerlussuaq, drained from an ice-dammed lake at the margin of the GrIS.