Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss
We provide the first synoptic view of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier and its evolution through time, based on speleological exploration and satellite image analysis of Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal. The drainage system has several linked components: (1) a seasonal subglacial dra...
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fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:623cc626a346493a85930efeec028a2e 2023-05-15T18:32:19+02:00 Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss D. I. Benn S. Thompson J. Gulley J. Mertes A. Luckman L. Nicholson 2017-09-01 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2247-2017 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2247/2017/tc-11-2247-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/article/623cc626a346493a85930efeec028a2e en eng Copernicus Publications doi:10.5194/tc-11-2247-2017 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2247/2017/tc-11-2247-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/article/623cc626a346493a85930efeec028a2e undefined The Cryosphere, Vol 11, Pp 2247-2264 (2017) geo envir Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2017 fttriple https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2247-2017 2023-01-22T19:25:59Z We provide the first synoptic view of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier and its evolution through time, based on speleological exploration and satellite image analysis of Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal. The drainage system has several linked components: (1) a seasonal subglacial drainage system below the upper ablation zone; (2) supraglacial channels, allowing efficient meltwater transport across parts of the upper ablation zone; (3) sub-marginal channels, allowing long-distance transport of meltwater; (4) perched ponds, which intermittently store meltwater prior to evacuation via the englacial drainage system; (5) englacial cut-and-closure conduits, which may undergo repeated cycles of abandonment and reactivation; and (6) a "base-level" lake system (Spillway Lake) dammed behind the terminal moraine. The distribution and relative importance of these elements has evolved through time, in response to sustained negative mass balance. The area occupied by perched ponds has expanded upglacier at the expense of supraglacial channels, and Spillway Lake has grown as more of the glacier surface ablates to base level. Subsurface processes play a governing role in creating, maintaining, and shutting down exposures of ice at the glacier surface, with a major impact on spatial patterns and rates of surface mass loss. Comparison of our results with observations on other glaciers indicate that englacial drainage systems play a key role in the response of debris-covered glaciers to sustained periods of negative mass balance. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Unknown Level Lake ENVELOPE(-101.227,-101.227,56.457,56.457) The Cryosphere 11 5 2247 2264 |
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fttriple |
language |
English |
topic |
geo envir |
spellingShingle |
geo envir D. I. Benn S. Thompson J. Gulley J. Mertes A. Luckman L. Nicholson Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss |
topic_facet |
geo envir |
description |
We provide the first synoptic view of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier and its evolution through time, based on speleological exploration and satellite image analysis of Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal. The drainage system has several linked components: (1) a seasonal subglacial drainage system below the upper ablation zone; (2) supraglacial channels, allowing efficient meltwater transport across parts of the upper ablation zone; (3) sub-marginal channels, allowing long-distance transport of meltwater; (4) perched ponds, which intermittently store meltwater prior to evacuation via the englacial drainage system; (5) englacial cut-and-closure conduits, which may undergo repeated cycles of abandonment and reactivation; and (6) a "base-level" lake system (Spillway Lake) dammed behind the terminal moraine. The distribution and relative importance of these elements has evolved through time, in response to sustained negative mass balance. The area occupied by perched ponds has expanded upglacier at the expense of supraglacial channels, and Spillway Lake has grown as more of the glacier surface ablates to base level. Subsurface processes play a governing role in creating, maintaining, and shutting down exposures of ice at the glacier surface, with a major impact on spatial patterns and rates of surface mass loss. Comparison of our results with observations on other glaciers indicate that englacial drainage systems play a key role in the response of debris-covered glaciers to sustained periods of negative mass balance. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
D. I. Benn S. Thompson J. Gulley J. Mertes A. Luckman L. Nicholson |
author_facet |
D. I. Benn S. Thompson J. Gulley J. Mertes A. Luckman L. Nicholson |
author_sort |
D. I. Benn |
title |
Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss |
title_short |
Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss |
title_full |
Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss |
title_fullStr |
Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structure and evolution of the drainage system of a Himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss |
title_sort |
structure and evolution of the drainage system of a himalayan debris-covered glacier, and its relationship with patterns of mass loss |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2247-2017 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2247/2017/tc-11-2247-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/article/623cc626a346493a85930efeec028a2e |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-101.227,-101.227,56.457,56.457) |
geographic |
Level Lake |
geographic_facet |
Level Lake |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 11, Pp 2247-2264 (2017) |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/tc-11-2247-2017 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2247/2017/tc-11-2247-2017.pdf https://doaj.org/article/623cc626a346493a85930efeec028a2e |
op_rights |
undefined |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2247-2017 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
2247 |
op_container_end_page |
2264 |
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1766216417942700032 |