The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering
As ice flows over a subglacial lake, the drop in bed resistance leads to an increase in ice velocities and a draw down of isochrones and cold ice. The ice surface flattens as it adjusts to the lack of resisting forces at the base. The rapid transition in velocity induces changes in ice viscosity and...
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10037/10802 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-751-2016 |
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ftunivtroemsoe:oai:munin.uit.no:10037/10802 2023-05-15T13:45:59+02:00 The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering Gudlaugsson, Eythor Humbert, Angelika Kleiner, Thomas Kohler, Jack Andreassen, Karin 2016-04-05 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/10802 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-751-2016 eng eng European Geoscience Union Gudlaugsson, E. (2015). Modelling the subglacial hydrology of the former Barents Sea Ice Sheet. (Doctoral thesis). https://hdl.handle.net/10037/25064 The Cryosphere info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/PETROMAKS/200672/Norway/Glaciations in the Barents Sea area// info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/SFF/223259/Norway/Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate/CAGE FRIDAID 1348975 doi:10.5194/tc-10-751-2016 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/10802 openAccess VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450 subglacial lake ice dynamics isochrones Antarctica Greenland ice-sheet interior thermal momentum COMSOL ice temperature Journal article Tidsskriftartikkel Peer reviewed 2016 ftunivtroemsoe https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-751-2016 2022-05-11T22:58:43Z As ice flows over a subglacial lake, the drop in bed resistance leads to an increase in ice velocities and a draw down of isochrones and cold ice. The ice surface flattens as it adjusts to the lack of resisting forces at the base. The rapid transition in velocity induces changes in ice viscosity and releases deformation energy that can raise the temperature locally. Recent studies of Antarctic subglacial lakes indicate that many lakes experience very fast and possibly episodic drainage, during which the lake size is rapidly reduced as water flows out. Questions that arise are what effect this would have on internal layers within the ice and whether such past drainage events could be inferred from isochrone structures downstream. Here, we study the effect of a subglacial lake on ice dynamics as well as the influence that such short timescale drainage would have on the internal layers of the ice. To this end, we use a full Stokes, polythermal ice flow model. An enthalpy-gradient method is used to account for the evolution of temperature and water content within the ice. We find that a rapid transition between slow-moving ice outside the lake, and full sliding over the lake, can release considerable amounts of deformational energy, with the potential to form a temperate layer at depth in the transition zone. In addition, we provide an explanation for a characteristic surface feature commonly seen at the edges of subglacial lakes, a hummocky surface depression in the transition zone between little to full sliding. We also conclude that rapid changes in the horizontal extent of subglacial lakes and slippery patches, compared to the average ice column velocity, can create a traveling wave at depth within the isochrone structure that transfers downstream with the advection of ice, thus indicating the possibility of detecting past drainage events with ice penetrating radar. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive Antarctic Greenland The Cryosphere 10 2 751 760 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtroemsoe |
language |
English |
topic |
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450 subglacial lake ice dynamics isochrones Antarctica Greenland ice-sheet interior thermal momentum COMSOL ice temperature |
spellingShingle |
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450 subglacial lake ice dynamics isochrones Antarctica Greenland ice-sheet interior thermal momentum COMSOL ice temperature Gudlaugsson, Eythor Humbert, Angelika Kleiner, Thomas Kohler, Jack Andreassen, Karin The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering |
topic_facet |
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450 subglacial lake ice dynamics isochrones Antarctica Greenland ice-sheet interior thermal momentum COMSOL ice temperature |
description |
As ice flows over a subglacial lake, the drop in bed resistance leads to an increase in ice velocities and a draw down of isochrones and cold ice. The ice surface flattens as it adjusts to the lack of resisting forces at the base. The rapid transition in velocity induces changes in ice viscosity and releases deformation energy that can raise the temperature locally. Recent studies of Antarctic subglacial lakes indicate that many lakes experience very fast and possibly episodic drainage, during which the lake size is rapidly reduced as water flows out. Questions that arise are what effect this would have on internal layers within the ice and whether such past drainage events could be inferred from isochrone structures downstream. Here, we study the effect of a subglacial lake on ice dynamics as well as the influence that such short timescale drainage would have on the internal layers of the ice. To this end, we use a full Stokes, polythermal ice flow model. An enthalpy-gradient method is used to account for the evolution of temperature and water content within the ice. We find that a rapid transition between slow-moving ice outside the lake, and full sliding over the lake, can release considerable amounts of deformational energy, with the potential to form a temperate layer at depth in the transition zone. In addition, we provide an explanation for a characteristic surface feature commonly seen at the edges of subglacial lakes, a hummocky surface depression in the transition zone between little to full sliding. We also conclude that rapid changes in the horizontal extent of subglacial lakes and slippery patches, compared to the average ice column velocity, can create a traveling wave at depth within the isochrone structure that transfers downstream with the advection of ice, thus indicating the possibility of detecting past drainage events with ice penetrating radar. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Gudlaugsson, Eythor Humbert, Angelika Kleiner, Thomas Kohler, Jack Andreassen, Karin |
author_facet |
Gudlaugsson, Eythor Humbert, Angelika Kleiner, Thomas Kohler, Jack Andreassen, Karin |
author_sort |
Gudlaugsson, Eythor |
title |
The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering |
title_short |
The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering |
title_full |
The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering |
title_fullStr |
The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering |
title_full_unstemmed |
The influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering |
title_sort |
influence of a model subglacial lake on ice dynamics and internal layering |
publisher |
European Geoscience Union |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/10802 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-751-2016 |
geographic |
Antarctic Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Greenland |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Arctic Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere |
op_relation |
Gudlaugsson, E. (2015). Modelling the subglacial hydrology of the former Barents Sea Ice Sheet. (Doctoral thesis). https://hdl.handle.net/10037/25064 The Cryosphere info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/PETROMAKS/200672/Norway/Glaciations in the Barents Sea area// info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/SFF/223259/Norway/Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate/CAGE FRIDAID 1348975 doi:10.5194/tc-10-751-2016 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/10802 |
op_rights |
openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-751-2016 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
2 |
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751 |
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760 |
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1766234667389812736 |