Observing calving-generated ocean waves with coastal broadband seismometers, Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Amundson, Jason M., Clinton, John F., Fahnestock, Mark, Truffer, Martin, Luthi, Martin P., Motyka, Roman J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: International Glaciological Society 2012
• Subjects: glaciers; seismometer; calving; calving generated waves; Greenland; ocean wave measurments; seiches; basin eigenmodes; icebergs; calving events; Greenland Ice Sheet Monitoring Network; iceberg calving; Arctic; Ilulissat; Jakobshavn Isbræ; Annals of Glaciology; Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research; Disko Bay; Ice Sheet; Iceberg*; International Polar Year; IPY; Jakobshavn; Jakobshavn isbræ; Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/11051

We use time-lapse photography, MODIS satellite imagery, ocean wave measurements and regional broadband seismic data to demonstrate that icebergs that calve from Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, can generate ocean waves that are detectable over 150 km from their source. We use time-lapse photography, MODIS satellite imagery, ocean wave measurements and regional broadband seismic data to demonstrate that icebergs that calve from Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, can generate ocean waves that are detectable over 150 km from their source. The waves, which are recorded seismically, have distinct spectral peaks, are not dispersive and persist for several hours. On the basis of these observations, we suggest that calving events at Jakobshavn Isbræ can stimulate seiches, or basin eigenmodes, in both Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay. Our observations furthermore indicate that coastal, land-based seismometers located near calving termini (e.g. as part of the new Greenland Ice Sheet Monitoring Network (GLISN)) can aid investigations into the largely unexplored, oceanographic consequences of iceberg calving. Funding for this project was provided by NASA’s Cryospheric Sciences Program (NNG06GB49G), the US National Science Foundation (ARC0531075, ARC0909552 and ANT0944193), the Swiss National Science Foundation (200021-113503/1) and a Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research (CIFAR) International Polar Year (IPY) student fellowship under US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cooperative agreement NA17RJ1224 with the University of Alaska. The seismic data were col- lected and distributed by the Greenland Ice Sheet Monitoring Network (GLISN) federation and its members: data from GDH were collected by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS); data from ASI, ILU and SUMG were collected by GEOFON; data from SFJ/SFJD were collected by GEUS, GEOFON, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) and the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO); and data from ILULI were collected by ...