The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Coupling between runoff, hydrology, basal motion and mass loss (‘hydrology-dynamics’) is a critical component of the Greenland Ice Sheet system. Despite considerable research effort, the mechanisms by which runoff influences ice dynamics and the net long-term (decadal and longer) dynamical effect of...
Published in: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2019
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Online Access: | https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/the-influence-of-hydrology-on-the-dynamics-of-landterminating-sectors-of-the-greenland-ice-sheet(1f679825-a690-418f-843b-c8378f8a7465).html https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00010 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/17121/1/Davison_2019_FES_Hydrology_CC.pdf |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/1f679825-a690-418f-843b-c8378f8a7465 2023-05-15T16:27:45+02:00 The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet Davison, Ben Sole, Andrew Livingstone, Stephen Cowton, Tom Nienow, Peter 2019-02-21 application/pdf https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/the-influence-of-hydrology-on-the-dynamics-of-landterminating-sectors-of-the-greenland-ice-sheet(1f679825-a690-418f-843b-c8378f8a7465).html https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00010 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/17121/1/Davison_2019_FES_Hydrology_CC.pdf eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Davison , B , Sole , A , Livingstone , S , Cowton , T & Nienow , P 2019 , ' The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet ' , Frontiers in Earth Sciences , vol. 7 , 10 . https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00010 Subglacial hydrology Ice dynamics Land-terminating Supraglacial lakes Greenland ice sheet Glaciers article 2019 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00010 2022-06-02T07:49:48Z Coupling between runoff, hydrology, basal motion and mass loss (‘hydrology-dynamics’) is a critical component of the Greenland Ice Sheet system. Despite considerable research effort, the mechanisms by which runoff influences ice dynamics and the net long-term (decadal and longer) dynamical effect of variations in the timing and magnitude of runoff delivery to the bed remain a subject of debate. We synthesise key research into land-terminating ice sheet hydrology-dynamics, in order to reconcile several apparent contradictions that have recently arisen as understanding of the topic has developed. We suggest that meltwater interaction with subglacial channels, cavities and deforming subglacial sediment modulates ice flow variability. Increasing surface runoff supply to the bed induces cavity expansion and sediment deformation, leading to early-melt season ice flow acceleration. In the ablation area, drainage of water at times of low runoff from high-pressure subglacial environments towards more efficient drainage pathways is thought to result in reductions in water pressure, ice-bed separation and sediment deformation, causing net slow-down on annual to decadal time-scales (ice flow self-regulation), despite increasing surface melt. Further inland, thicker ice, small surface gradients and reduced runoff supress efficient drainage development, and a small net increase in both summer and winter ice flow is observed. Predicting ice motion across land-terminating sectors of the ice sheet over the 21st century is confounded by inadequate understanding of the processes and feedbacks between runoff and subglacial motion. However, if runoff supply increases, we suggest that ice flow in marginal regions will continue to decrease on annual and longer timescales, principally due to (i) increasing drainage system efficiency in marginal areas, (ii) progressive depression of basal water pressure and (iii) thinning-induced lowering of driving stresses. At higher elevations, we suggest that minor year-on-year ice flow acceleration ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Ice Sheet University of St Andrews: Research Portal Greenland Frontiers in Earth Science 7 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
Subglacial hydrology Ice dynamics Land-terminating Supraglacial lakes Greenland ice sheet Glaciers |
spellingShingle |
Subglacial hydrology Ice dynamics Land-terminating Supraglacial lakes Greenland ice sheet Glaciers Davison, Ben Sole, Andrew Livingstone, Stephen Cowton, Tom Nienow, Peter The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet |
topic_facet |
Subglacial hydrology Ice dynamics Land-terminating Supraglacial lakes Greenland ice sheet Glaciers |
description |
Coupling between runoff, hydrology, basal motion and mass loss (‘hydrology-dynamics’) is a critical component of the Greenland Ice Sheet system. Despite considerable research effort, the mechanisms by which runoff influences ice dynamics and the net long-term (decadal and longer) dynamical effect of variations in the timing and magnitude of runoff delivery to the bed remain a subject of debate. We synthesise key research into land-terminating ice sheet hydrology-dynamics, in order to reconcile several apparent contradictions that have recently arisen as understanding of the topic has developed. We suggest that meltwater interaction with subglacial channels, cavities and deforming subglacial sediment modulates ice flow variability. Increasing surface runoff supply to the bed induces cavity expansion and sediment deformation, leading to early-melt season ice flow acceleration. In the ablation area, drainage of water at times of low runoff from high-pressure subglacial environments towards more efficient drainage pathways is thought to result in reductions in water pressure, ice-bed separation and sediment deformation, causing net slow-down on annual to decadal time-scales (ice flow self-regulation), despite increasing surface melt. Further inland, thicker ice, small surface gradients and reduced runoff supress efficient drainage development, and a small net increase in both summer and winter ice flow is observed. Predicting ice motion across land-terminating sectors of the ice sheet over the 21st century is confounded by inadequate understanding of the processes and feedbacks between runoff and subglacial motion. However, if runoff supply increases, we suggest that ice flow in marginal regions will continue to decrease on annual and longer timescales, principally due to (i) increasing drainage system efficiency in marginal areas, (ii) progressive depression of basal water pressure and (iii) thinning-induced lowering of driving stresses. At higher elevations, we suggest that minor year-on-year ice flow acceleration ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Davison, Ben Sole, Andrew Livingstone, Stephen Cowton, Tom Nienow, Peter |
author_facet |
Davison, Ben Sole, Andrew Livingstone, Stephen Cowton, Tom Nienow, Peter |
author_sort |
Davison, Ben |
title |
The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet |
title_short |
The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet |
title_full |
The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet |
title_fullStr |
The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet |
title_full_unstemmed |
The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet |
title_sort |
influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the greenland ice sheet |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/the-influence-of-hydrology-on-the-dynamics-of-landterminating-sectors-of-the-greenland-ice-sheet(1f679825-a690-418f-843b-c8378f8a7465).html https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00010 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/17121/1/Davison_2019_FES_Hydrology_CC.pdf |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland Ice Sheet |
genre_facet |
Greenland Ice Sheet |
op_source |
Davison , B , Sole , A , Livingstone , S , Cowton , T & Nienow , P 2019 , ' The influence of hydrology on the dynamics of land-terminating sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet ' , Frontiers in Earth Sciences , vol. 7 , 10 . https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00010 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00010 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Earth Science |
container_volume |
7 |
_version_ |
1766017274971422720 |