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Title
  • en Glacier dynamics near the calving front of Bowdoin Glacier, northwestern Greenland
Creator
    • en Sakakibara, Daiki
    • en Tsutaki, Shun
    • en Maruyama, Mihiro
Accessrights open access
Rights
  • en © 2015 International Glaciological Society
Subject
  • Other en Arctic glaciology
  • Other en glacier calving
  • Other en glacier flow
  • Other en ice/ocean interactions
  • Other en subglacial processes
Description
  • Abstract en To better understand recent rapid recession of marine-terminating glaciers in Greenland, we performed satellite and field observations near the calving front of Bowdoin Glacier, a 3 km wide outlet glacier in northwestern Greenland. Satellite data revealed a clear transition to a rapidly retreating phase in 2008 from a relatively stable glacier condition that lasted for >20 years. Ice radar measurements showed that the glacier front is grounded, but very close to the floating condition. These results, in combination with the results of ocean depth soundings, suggest bed geometry in front of the glacier is the primary control on the rate and pattern of recent rapid retreat. Presumably, glacier thinning due to atmospheric and/or ocean warming triggered the initial retreat. In situ measurements showed complex short-term ice speed variations, which were correlated with air temperature, precipitation and ocean tides. Ice speed quickly responded to temperature rise and a heavy rain event, indicating rapid drainage of surface water to the bed. Semi-diurnal speed peaks coincided with low tides, suggesting the major role of the hydrostatic pressure acting on the calving face in the force balance. These observations demonstrate that the dynamics of Bowdoin Glacier are sensitive to small perturbations occurring near the calving front.
Publisher en International Glaciological Society (IGS)
Date
    Issued2015-05-30
Language
  • eng
Resource Type journal article
Version Type VoR
Identifier HDL http://hdl.handle.net/2115/60153
Relation
  • URI http://www.igsoc.org/
  • isIdenticalTo DOI https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG14J127
Journal
    • PISSN 0022-1430
      • en Journal of glaciology
      • Volume Number61 Issue Number226 Page Start223 Page End232
File
    • fulltext s3.pdf
    • 3.41 MB (application/pdf)
      • Issued2015-05-30
Oaidate 2023-07-26