Iceberg Properties and Distributions in Three Greenlandic Fjords Using Satellite Imagery

• Main Author: Sulak, Daniel
• Other Authors: Sutherland, David
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Oregon 2016
• Subjects: Fjords; Glacier; Greenland; Icebergs; Melt; Ocean; Rink Isbræ; glacier; greenlandic; Ice Sheet; Sermilik; Tidewater
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/20712

Icebergs calved from tidewater glaciers represent significant portions of freshwater flux from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the ocean. Using satellite data sets we quantify properties and distributions of icebergs in three fjords with varied properties: Sermilk, Rink Isbræ, and Kangerdlugssûp Sermerssua. Total iceberg volumes in summer in the three fjords average 6.43, 1.69, and 0.19 km^3, respectively, and we calculate cumulative submerged surface areas of iceberg faces to be 213, 55.2, and 7.57 km^2, respectively. We calculate a freshwater flux from iceberg melt of 0.009 – 0.083 m^3 d^-1 in Sermilik Fjord, suggesting a strong potential of iceberg melt water to influence water properties. Properties of icebergs and size distributions are influenced by calving style and grounding line depths of parent glaciers. Variations are represented in the coefficients of generalized Pareto distributions which best describe size distributions in the fjords.