Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard
Glacier surges tend to be initiated in relatively small regions, then propagate down-glacier, up-glacier and/or across-glacier. The processes controlling patterns and rates of surge propagation, however, are incompletely understood. In this paper, we focus on patterns of surge propagation in two con...
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/5fb8c584-9676-43fc-a3e2-80aa15927319 2023-05-15T13:29:21+02:00 Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard Benn, Douglas I. Kristensen, Lene Gulley, Jason D. 2009 https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/surge-propagation-constrained-by-a-persistent-subglacial-conduit-bakaninbreenpaulabreen-svalbard(5fb8c584-9676-43fc-a3e2-80aa15927319).html eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Benn , D I , Kristensen , L & Gulley , J D 2009 , ' Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard ' , Annals of Glaciology , vol. 50 , no. 52 , pp. 81-86 . GLACIER SURGES EVOLUTION REGIONS CONTRASTS MECHANISM DYNAMICS INSIGHTS RADAR article 2009 ftunstandrewcris 2022-06-02T07:40:08Z Glacier surges tend to be initiated in relatively small regions, then propagate down-glacier, up-glacier and/or across-glacier. The processes controlling patterns and rates of surge propagation, however, are incompletely understood. In this paper, we focus on patterns of surge propagation in two confluent glaciers in Svalbard, and examine possible causes. One of these glaciers, Bakaninbreen, surged in 1985-95. The surge propagated similar to 7 km down-glacier, but did not cross the medial moraine onto the other glacier, Paulabreen. When Paulabreen surged between 2003 and 2005, the surge wave travelled several km down-glacier, but its lateral boundary stayed very close to the medial moraine. The confluent glaciers formerly extended into a fjord, and bathymetric mapping and historical observations show that an active subglacial conduit has existed between Bakaninbreen and Paulabreen since at least the early 20th century. The existence of a persistent subglacial conduit below the medial moraine was confirmed when we entered and mapped a Nye channel at the confluence of Bakaninbreen and Paulabreen. We argue that the conduit acts as a barrier to surge propagation. If pressurized water below one branch of the glacier system reaches the conduit, water can be readily evacuated, preventing its propagation into the other branch. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology glacier Svalbard University of St Andrews: Research Portal Bakaninbreen ENVELOPE(17.500,17.500,77.667,77.667) Paulabreen ENVELOPE(17.227,17.227,77.755,77.755) Svalbard |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
GLACIER SURGES EVOLUTION REGIONS CONTRASTS MECHANISM DYNAMICS INSIGHTS RADAR |
spellingShingle |
GLACIER SURGES EVOLUTION REGIONS CONTRASTS MECHANISM DYNAMICS INSIGHTS RADAR Benn, Douglas I. Kristensen, Lene Gulley, Jason D. Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard |
topic_facet |
GLACIER SURGES EVOLUTION REGIONS CONTRASTS MECHANISM DYNAMICS INSIGHTS RADAR |
description |
Glacier surges tend to be initiated in relatively small regions, then propagate down-glacier, up-glacier and/or across-glacier. The processes controlling patterns and rates of surge propagation, however, are incompletely understood. In this paper, we focus on patterns of surge propagation in two confluent glaciers in Svalbard, and examine possible causes. One of these glaciers, Bakaninbreen, surged in 1985-95. The surge propagated similar to 7 km down-glacier, but did not cross the medial moraine onto the other glacier, Paulabreen. When Paulabreen surged between 2003 and 2005, the surge wave travelled several km down-glacier, but its lateral boundary stayed very close to the medial moraine. The confluent glaciers formerly extended into a fjord, and bathymetric mapping and historical observations show that an active subglacial conduit has existed between Bakaninbreen and Paulabreen since at least the early 20th century. The existence of a persistent subglacial conduit below the medial moraine was confirmed when we entered and mapped a Nye channel at the confluence of Bakaninbreen and Paulabreen. We argue that the conduit acts as a barrier to surge propagation. If pressurized water below one branch of the glacier system reaches the conduit, water can be readily evacuated, preventing its propagation into the other branch. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Benn, Douglas I. Kristensen, Lene Gulley, Jason D. |
author_facet |
Benn, Douglas I. Kristensen, Lene Gulley, Jason D. |
author_sort |
Benn, Douglas I. |
title |
Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard |
title_short |
Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard |
title_full |
Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard |
title_fullStr |
Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard |
title_full_unstemmed |
Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard |
title_sort |
surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, bakaninbreen-paulabreen, svalbard |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/surge-propagation-constrained-by-a-persistent-subglacial-conduit-bakaninbreenpaulabreen-svalbard(5fb8c584-9676-43fc-a3e2-80aa15927319).html |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(17.500,17.500,77.667,77.667) ENVELOPE(17.227,17.227,77.755,77.755) |
geographic |
Bakaninbreen Paulabreen Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Bakaninbreen Paulabreen Svalbard |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology glacier Svalbard |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology glacier Svalbard |
op_source |
Benn , D I , Kristensen , L & Gulley , J D 2009 , ' Surge propagation constrained by a persistent subglacial conduit, Bakaninbreen-Paulabreen, Svalbard ' , Annals of Glaciology , vol. 50 , no. 52 , pp. 81-86 . |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
_version_ |
1766000054638739456 |