scholarly journals Local Coastal Water Masses Control Heat Levels in a West Greenland Tidewater Outlet Glacier Fjord

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (11) ◽  
pp. 8068-8083 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mortensen ◽  
S. Rysgaard ◽  
K. E. Arendt ◽  
T. Juul-Pedersen ◽  
D. H. Søgaard ◽  
...  
2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan-Chou Shen ◽  
Kon-Kee Liu ◽  
Meng-Yang Lee ◽  
Typhoon Lee ◽  
Chung-Ho Wang ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A. Hogan ◽  
Martin Jakobsson ◽  
Larry Mayer ◽  
Brendan T. Reilly ◽  
Anne E. Jennings ◽  
...  

Abstract. Petermann Fjord is a deep (>1000 m) fjord that incises the coastline of north-west Greenland and was carved by an expanded Petermann Glacier, one of the six largest outlet glaciers draining the modern Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). Between 5 and 70 m of unconsolidated glacigenic material infills in the fjord and adjacent Nares Strait, deposited as the Petermann and Nares Strait ice streams retreated through the area after the Last Glacial Maximum. We have investigated the deglacial deposits using seismic stratigraphic techniques and have correlated our results with high-resolution bathymetric data and core lithofacies. We identify six seismo-acoustic facies in more than 3500 line kilometres of sub-bottom and seismic-reflection profiles throughout the fjord, Hall Basin and Kennedy Channel. Seismo-acoustic facies relate to bedrock or till surfaces (Facies I), subglacial deposition (Facies II), deposition from meltwater plumes and icebergs in quiescent glacimarine conditions (Facies III, IV), deposition at grounded ice margins during stillstands in retreat (grounding-zone wedges; Facies V) and the redeposition of material downslope (Facies IV). These sediment units represent the total volume of glacial sediment delivered to the mapped marine environment during retreat. We calculate a glacial sediment flux for the former Petermann ice stream as 1080–1420 m3 a−1 per metre of ice stream width and an average deglacial erosion rate for the basin of 0.29–0.34 mm a−1. Our deglacial erosion rates are consistent with results from Antarctic Peninsula fjord systems but are several times lower than values for other modern GrIS catchments. This difference is attributed to fact that large volumes of surface water do not access the bed in the Petermann system, and we conclude that glacial erosion is limited to areas overridden by streaming ice in this large outlet glacier setting. Erosion rates are also presented for two phases of ice retreat and confirm that there is significant variation in rates over a glacial–deglacial transition. Our new glacial sediment fluxes and erosion rates show that the Petermann ice stream was approximately as efficient as the palaeo-Jakobshavn Isbræ at eroding, transporting and delivering sediment to its margin during early deglaciation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 3651
Author(s):  
Ashley V. York ◽  
Karen E. Frey ◽  
Sadegh Jamali ◽  
Sarah B. Das

We investigated the change in terminus position between 1985 and 2015 of 17 marine-terminating glaciers that drain into Disko and Uummannaq Bays, West Greenland, by manually digitizing over 5000 individual frontal positions from over 1200 Landsat images. We find that 15 of 17 glacier termini retreated over the study period, with ~80% of this retreat occurring since 2000. Increased frequency of Landsat observations since 2000 allowed for further investigation of the seasonal variability in terminus position. We identified 10 actively retreating glaciers based on a significant positive relationship between glaciers with cumulative retreat >300 m since 2000 and their average annual amplitude (seasonal range) in terminus position. Finally, using the Detecting Breakpoints and Estimating Segments in Trend (DBEST) program, we investigated whether the 2000–2015 trends in terminus position were explained by the occurrence of change points (significant trend transitions). Based on the change point analysis, we found that nine of 10 glaciers identified as actively retreating also underwent two or three periods of change, during which their terminus positions were characterized by increases in cumulative retreat. Previous literature suggests potential relationships between our identified change dates with anomalous ocean conditions, such as low sea ice concentration and high sea surface temperatures, and our change durations with individual fjord geometry.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 4583-4624 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Stevens ◽  
F. Straneo ◽  
S. B. Das ◽  
A. J. Plueddemann ◽  
A. L. Kukulya ◽  
...  

Abstract. Measurements of near-ice (< 200 m) hydrography and near-terminus subglacial hydrology are lacking due in large part to the difficulty in working at the margin of calving glaciers. Here we pair detailed hydrographic and bathymetric measurements collected with an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle as close as 150 m from the ice/ocean interface of the Sarqardliup sermia/Sarqardleq Fjord system, West Greenland, with modeled and observed subglacial discharge locations and magnitudes. We find evidence of two main types of subsurface glacially modified water localized in space and with distinct properties that are consistent with runoff discharged at two locations along the grounded margin. These locations, in turn, correspond with two prominent subglacial subcatchments beneath Sarqardliup sermia. Thus, near-ice observations and subglacial discharge routing indicate that subglacial discharge from this glacier occurs at only two primary locations and gives rise to two distinct glacially modified waters. Furthermore, we show that the location with the largest discharge flux is associated with the lighter, fresher glacially modified watermass. This is qualitatively consistent with results from an idealized plume model.


2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rysgaard ◽  
W. Boone ◽  
D. Carlson ◽  
M. K. Sejr ◽  
J. Bendtsen ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Vianna ◽  
Tabajara Almeida

Trawling for pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and F. paulensis) catches also large quantities of fish, mostly bony fish, which are discarded, as they have no commercial value. Their composition and abundance were studied in an area that corresponded to the southeastern coastline of Brazil. Ninety one species were registered. Incidental fishing affected mainly small individuals and occured throughout the year. The year round rate of bony fish to shrimp catches was 10,5:1,0. Three assemblages of bony fishes could be identified, influenced by the seasonal variation of the water masses, the predominant group being associated with the Coastal Water, another with the penetration of colder waters onto the platform (SACW) and a third group of a more homogenous distribution. The most critical period identified for the bycatch capture was the beginning of the winter, which was due to the overlapping of fish assemblages and the peak of fishing recruitment.


1958 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 867-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Lubinsky

The "Calanus" expeditions of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada give the first detailed data on the distribution of Mytilus edulis L. in Ungava Bay, Hudson Strait, and the northern part of the Hudson Bay. Types of shells of this mollusc and their growth in the above regions are described. The comparison of the growth of M. edulis from Canadian Eastern Arctic, west Greenland, and the northwestern shores of the Atlantic Ocean shows that northward from the Canadian Maritime Provinces the growth of M. edulis slows down. In the region investigated by "Calanus", growth diminishes from Ungava Bay to Hudson Bay. The dependence of the distribution of M. edulis on the types of water masses and its relation to the northern limits of the subarctic zone in the Canadian Eastern Arctic is discussed.


1996 ◽  
Vol 42 (141) ◽  
pp. 219-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted S. Clarke ◽  
Keiih Echelmeyer

AbstractSeismic-reflection methods were used to determine the ice thickness and basal topography of Jakobshavns Isbræ, a large, fast-moving ice stream/outlet glacier in West Greenland. A method of data analysis was developed which involves the pointwise migration of data from a linear seismic array and a single explosive source; the method yields the depth, horizontal position and slope of the basal reflector. A deep U-shaped subglacial trough was found beneath the entire length of the well-defined ice stream. The trough is incised up to 1500 m into bedrock, and its base lies 1200–1500 m below sea level for at least 70 km inland. Center-line ice thickness along most of the channel is about 2500 m, or about 2.5 times that of the surrounding ice sheet. This prominent bedrock trough was not apparent in existing radio-echo-sounding data. Reflection coefficients indicate that much of the basal interface is probably underlain by compacted, non-deforming sediment. The large ice thickness, coupled with relatively steep surface slopes, leads to high basal shear stresses (200–300 k Pa) along the ice stream. The large shear stresses and lack of a deformable bed imply that internal deformation plays a dominant role in the dynamics of Jakobshavns Isbræ.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2353-2365 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Todd ◽  
P. Christoffersen

Abstract. We use a full-Stokes 2-D model (Elmer/Ice) to investigate the flow and calving dynamics of Store Glacier, a fast-flowing outlet glacier in West Greenland. Based on a new, subgrid-scale implementation of the crevasse depth calving criterion, we perform two sets of simulations: one to identify the primary forcing mechanisms and another to constrain future stability. We find that the mixture of icebergs and sea ice, known as ice mélange or sikussak, is principally responsible for the observed seasonal advance of the ice front. On the other hand, the effect of submarine melting on the calving rate of Store Glacier appears to be limited. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the glacier's calving dynamics are sensitive to seasonal perturbation, but are stable on interannual timescales due to the strong topographic control on the flow regime. Our results shed light on the dynamics of calving glaciers and may help explain why neighbouring glaciers do not necessarily respond synchronously to changes in atmospheric and oceanic forcing.


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