The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
Articles | Volume 10, issue 4
Articles | Volume 10, issue 4
The Cryosphere, 10, 1427–1432, 2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1427-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
The Cryosphere, 10, 1427–1432, 2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1427-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Articles | Volume 10, issue 4

Brief communication 11 Jul 2016

Brief communication | 11 Jul 2016

Brief Communication: Twelve-year cyclic surging episodes at Donjek Glacier in Yukon, Canada

Takahiro Abe1, Masato Furuya1, and Daiki Sakakibara2,3 Takahiro Abe et al.
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  • 1Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
  • 2Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
  • 3Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Received: 09 Oct 2015 – Discussion started: 02 Nov 2015 – Revised: 07 Jun 2016 – Accepted: 13 Jun 2016 – Published: 11 Jul 2016

Abstract. Surge-type glaciers repeat their short active phase and their much longer quiescent phase usually every several decades or longer, but detailed observations of the evolution cycles have been limited to only a few glaciers. Here we report three surging episodes in 1989, 2001, and 2013 at Donjek Glacier in the Yukon, Canada, indicating remarkably regular and short repeat cycles of 12 years. The surging area is limited within the  ∼ 20 km section from the terminus, originating in an area where the flow width significantly narrows downstream, suggesting a strong control of the valley constriction on the surge dynamics.

How to cite. Abe, T., Furuya, M., and Sakakibara, D.: Brief Communication: Twelve-year cyclic surging episodes at Donjek Glacier in Yukon, Canada, The Cryosphere, 10, 1427–1432, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1427-2016, 2016.
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Short summary
We identified 12-year cyclic surging episodes at Donjek Glacier in Yukon, Canada. The surging area is limited within the ~20km section from the terminus, originating in an area where the flow width significantly narrows downstream. Our results suggest strong control of the valley constriction on the surge dynamics.
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