Multi-Year Observations of Breiðamerkurjökull, a Marine-Terminating Glacier in Southeastern Iceland, using Terrestrial Radar Interferometry

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Voytenko, Denis, Dixon, Timothy H., Howat, Ian M., Gourmelen, Noel, Lembke, Chad, Werner, Charles L., De La Peña, Santiago, Oddsson, Björn
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Digital Commons @ University of South Florida 2015
• Subjects: glacier flow; glaciological instruments and methods; ice/ocean interactions; remote sensing; Earth Sciences; Life Sciences; Breiðamerkurjökull; glacier; Iceland
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/1533; https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG14J099; https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/context/geo_facpub/article/2470/viewcontent/c64013092f9d7800b86ba66573e2ad99effe.pdf

Terrestrial radar interferometry (TRI) is a new technique for studying ice motion and volume change of glaciers. TRI is especially useful for temporally and spatially dense measurements of highly dynamic glacial termini. We conducted a TRI survey of Breiðamerkurjökull, a marine-terminating glacier in Iceland, imaging its terminus near the end of the melt season in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The ice velocities were as high as 5 m d−1, with the fastest velocities near the calving front. Retreat of the glacier over the 3 year observation period was accompanied by strong embayment formation. Iceberg tracking with the radar shows high current velocities near the embayment, probably indicating strong meltwater outflow and mixing with relatively warm lagoon water.