Articles | Volume 13, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2303-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2303-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 Sep 2019
Research article |
| 05 Sep 2019
| 05 Sep 2019
Impact of warming shelf waters on ice mélange and terminus retreat at a large SE Greenland glacier
Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
Adrian J. Luckman
Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
Douglas I. Benn
University of St Andrews, College Gate, St Andrews KY16 9AJ, UK
Tom Cowton
University of St Andrews, College Gate, St Andrews KY16 9AJ, UK
University of St Andrews, College Gate, St Andrews KY16 9AJ, UK
Related authors
Sophie Goliber, Taryn Black, Ginny Catania, James M. Lea, Helene Olsen, Daniel Cheng, Suzanne Bevan, Anders Bjørk, Charlie Bunce, Stephen Brough, J. Rachel Carr, Tom Cowton, Alex Gardner, Dominik Fahrner, Emily Hill, Ian Joughin, Niels J. Korsgaard, Adrian Luckman, Twila Moon, Tavi Murray, Andrew Sole, Michael Wood, and Enze Zhang
The Cryosphere, 16, 3215–3233, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3215-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3215-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Terminus traces have been used to understand how Greenland's glaciers have changed over time; however, manual digitization is time-intensive, and a lack of coordination leads to duplication of efforts. We have compiled a dataset of over 39 000 terminus traces for 278 glaciers for scientific and machine learning applications. We also provide an overview of an updated version of the Google Earth Engine Digitization Tool (GEEDiT), which has been developed specifically for the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Douglas I. Benn, Adrian Luckman, Jan A. Åström, Anna J. Crawford, Stephen L. Cornford, Suzanne L. Bevan, Thomas Zwinger, Rupert Gladstone, Karen Alley, Erin Pettit, and Jeremy Bassis
The Cryosphere, 16, 2545–2564, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier (TG), in West Antarctica, is potentially unstable and may contribute significantly to sea-level rise as global warming continues. Using satellite data, we show that Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf, the largest remaining floating extension of TG, has started to accelerate as it fragments along a shear zone. Computer modelling does not indicate that fragmentation will lead to imminent glacier collapse, but it is clear that major, rapid, and unpredictable changes are underway.
Suzanne L. Bevan, Adrian J. Luckman, Douglas I. Benn, Susheel Adusumilli, and Anna Crawford
The Cryosphere, 15, 3317–3328, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3317-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3317-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet depends on the behaviour of the fast-flowing glaciers, such as Thwaites, that connect it to the ocean. Here we show that a large ocean-melted cavity beneath Thwaites Glacier has remained stable since it first formed, implying that, in line with current theory, basal melt is now concentrated close to where the ice first goes afloat. We also show that Thwaites Glacier continues to thin and to speed up and that continued retreat is therefore likely.
Florian Vacek, Faezeh M. Nick, Douglas Benn, Maarten P. A. Zwarts, Walter Immerzeel, and Roderik S. W. van de Wal
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5733, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5733, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Short summary
Short summary
We studied a unique glacier in South Greenland that ends in both a lake and the ocean. Using satellite data and field work, we found that the two glacier fronts behave very differently even under the same climate. At the lake glacier little melt below water and the presence of lake ice reduce the production of icebergs. The lake glacier experienced a sudden large breakup. Our work suggests that lake and marine glacier fronts must be treated differently in model simulations.
Donald A. Slater, Eleanor Johnstone, Martim Mas e Braga, Neil J. Fraser, Tom Cowton, and Mark Inall
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 7475–7500, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7475-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7475-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Glacial fjords connect ice sheets to the ocean, controlling heat delivery to glaciers, which impacts ice sheet melt, and freshwater discharge to the ocean, affecting ocean circulation. However, their dynamics are not captured in large-scale climate models. We designed a simplified, computationally efficient model – FjordRPM – that accurately captures key fjord processes. It has direct applications for improving projections of ice melt, ocean circulation, and sea level rise.
Iain Wheel, Douglas I. Benn, Anna J. Crawford, Joe Todd, and Thomas Zwinger
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 5759–5777, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-5759-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-5759-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Calving, the detachment of large icebergs from glaciers, is one of the largest uncertainties in future sea level rise projections. This process is poorly understood, and there is an absence of detailed models capable of simulating calving. A new 3D calving model has been developed to better understand calving at glaciers where detailed modelling was previously limited. Importantly, the new model is very flexible. By allowing for unrestricted calving geometries, it can be applied at any location.
Oliver J. Marsh, Adrian J. Luckman, and Dominic A. Hodgson
The Cryosphere, 18, 705–710, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-705-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-705-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Brunt Ice Shelf has accelerated rapidly after calving an iceberg in January 2023. A decade of GPS data show that the rate of acceleration in August 2023 was 30 times higher than before calving, and velocity has doubled in 6 months. Satellite velocity maps show the extent of the change. The acceleration is due to loss of contact between the ice shelf and a pinning point known as the McDonald Ice Rumples. The observations highlight how iceberg calving can directly impact ice shelves.
Sarah S. Thompson, Bernd Kulessa, Adrian Luckman, Jacqueline A. Halpin, Jamin S. Greenbaum, Tyler Pelle, Feras Habbal, Jingxue Guo, Lenneke M. Jong, Jason L. Roberts, Bo Sun, and Donald D. Blankenship
The Cryosphere, 17, 157–174, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-157-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-157-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We use satellite imagery and ice penetrating radar to investigate the stability of the Shackleton system in East Antarctica. We find significant changes in surface structures across the system and observe a significant increase in ice flow speed (up to 50 %) on the floating part of Scott Glacier. We conclude that knowledge remains woefully insufficient to explain recent observed changes in the grounded and floating regions of the system.
Sophie Goliber, Taryn Black, Ginny Catania, James M. Lea, Helene Olsen, Daniel Cheng, Suzanne Bevan, Anders Bjørk, Charlie Bunce, Stephen Brough, J. Rachel Carr, Tom Cowton, Alex Gardner, Dominik Fahrner, Emily Hill, Ian Joughin, Niels J. Korsgaard, Adrian Luckman, Twila Moon, Tavi Murray, Andrew Sole, Michael Wood, and Enze Zhang
The Cryosphere, 16, 3215–3233, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3215-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3215-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Terminus traces have been used to understand how Greenland's glaciers have changed over time; however, manual digitization is time-intensive, and a lack of coordination leads to duplication of efforts. We have compiled a dataset of over 39 000 terminus traces for 278 glaciers for scientific and machine learning applications. We also provide an overview of an updated version of the Google Earth Engine Digitization Tool (GEEDiT), which has been developed specifically for the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Douglas I. Benn, Adrian Luckman, Jan A. Åström, Anna J. Crawford, Stephen L. Cornford, Suzanne L. Bevan, Thomas Zwinger, Rupert Gladstone, Karen Alley, Erin Pettit, and Jeremy Bassis
The Cryosphere, 16, 2545–2564, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier (TG), in West Antarctica, is potentially unstable and may contribute significantly to sea-level rise as global warming continues. Using satellite data, we show that Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf, the largest remaining floating extension of TG, has started to accelerate as it fragments along a shear zone. Computer modelling does not indicate that fragmentation will lead to imminent glacier collapse, but it is clear that major, rapid, and unpredictable changes are underway.
Johannes Oerlemans, Jack Kohler, and Adrian Luckman
The Cryosphere, 16, 2115–2126, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2115-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2115-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Tunabreen is a 26 km long tidewater glacier. It is the most frequently surging glacier in Svalbard, with four documented surges in the past 100 years. We have modelled this glacier to find out how it reacts to future climate change. Careful calibration was done against the observed length record for the past 100 years. For a 50 m increase in the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) the length of the glacier will be shortened by 10 km after about 100 years.
Benjamin Joseph Davison, Tom Cowton, Andrew Sole, Finlo Cottier, and Pete Nienow
The Cryosphere, 16, 1181–1196, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1181-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1181-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The ocean is an important driver of Greenland glacier retreat. Icebergs influence ocean temperature in the vicinity of glaciers, which will affect glacier retreat rates, but the effect of icebergs on water temperature is poorly understood. In this study, we use a model to show that icebergs cause large changes to water properties next to Greenland's glaciers, which could influence ocean-driven glacier retreat around Greenland.
Gregoire Guillet, Owen King, Mingyang Lv, Sajid Ghuffar, Douglas Benn, Duncan Quincey, and Tobias Bolch
The Cryosphere, 16, 603–623, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-603-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-603-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Surging glaciers show cyclical changes in flow behavior – between slow and fast flow – and can have drastic impacts on settlements in their vicinity.
One of the clusters of surging glaciers worldwide is High Mountain Asia (HMA).
We present an inventory of surging glaciers in HMA, identified from satellite imagery. We show that the number of surging glaciers was underestimated and that they represent 20 % of the area covered by glaciers in HMA, before discussing new physics for glacier surges.
Jan Bouke Pronk, Tobias Bolch, Owen King, Bert Wouters, and Douglas I. Benn
The Cryosphere, 15, 5577–5599, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5577-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5577-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
About 10 % of Himalayan glaciers flow directly into lakes. This study finds, using satellite imagery, that such glaciers show higher flow velocities than glaciers without ice–lake contact. In particular near the glacier tongue the impact of a lake on the glacier flow can be dramatic. The development of current and new meltwater bodies will influence the flow of an increasing number of Himalayan glaciers in the future, a scenario not currently considered in regional ice loss projections.
Karen E. Alley, Christian T. Wild, Adrian Luckman, Ted A. Scambos, Martin Truffer, Erin C. Pettit, Atsuhiro Muto, Bruce Wallin, Marin Klinger, Tyler Sutterley, Sarah F. Child, Cyrus Hulen, Jan T. M. Lenaerts, Michelle Maclennan, Eric Keenan, and Devon Dunmire
The Cryosphere, 15, 5187–5203, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5187-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5187-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present a 20-year, satellite-based record of velocity and thickness change on the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf (TEIS), the largest remaining floating extension of Thwaites Glacier (TG). TG holds the single greatest control on sea-level rise over the next few centuries, so it is important to understand changes on the TEIS, which controls much of TG's flow into the ocean. Our results suggest that the TEIS is progressively destabilizing and is likely to disintegrate over the next few decades.
Suzanne L. Bevan, Adrian J. Luckman, Douglas I. Benn, Susheel Adusumilli, and Anna Crawford
The Cryosphere, 15, 3317–3328, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3317-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3317-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet depends on the behaviour of the fast-flowing glaciers, such as Thwaites, that connect it to the ocean. Here we show that a large ocean-melted cavity beneath Thwaites Glacier has remained stable since it first formed, implying that, in line with current theory, basal melt is now concentrated close to where the ice first goes afloat. We also show that Thwaites Glacier continues to thin and to speed up and that continued retreat is therefore likely.
Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer, Michael Avian, Douglas I. Benn, Felix Bernsteiner, Philipp Krisch, and Christian Ziesler
The Cryosphere, 15, 1237–1258, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1237-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1237-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Present climate warming leads to glacier recession and formation of lakes. We studied the nature and rate of lake evolution in the period 1998–2019 at Pasterze Glacier, Austria. We detected for instance several large-scale and rapidly occurring ice-breakup events from below the water level. This process, previously not reported from the European Alps, might play an important role at alpine glaciers in the future as many glaciers are expected to recede into valley basins allowing lake formation.
Eef C. H. van Dongen, Guillaume Jouvet, Shin Sugiyama, Evgeny A. Podolskiy, Martin Funk, Douglas I. Benn, Fabian Lindner, Andreas Bauder, Julien Seguinot, Silvan Leinss, and Fabian Walter
The Cryosphere, 15, 485–500, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-485-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-485-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The dynamic mass loss of tidewater glaciers is strongly linked to glacier calving. We study calving mechanisms under a thinning regime, based on 5 years of field and remote-sensing data of Bowdoin Glacier. Our data suggest that Bowdoin Glacier ungrounded recently, and its calving behaviour changed from calving due to surface crevasses to buoyancy-induced calving resulting from basal crevasses. This change may be a precursor to glacier retreat.
Cited articles
Amundson, J. M., Fahnestock, M., Truffer, M., Brown, J., Lüthi, M. P., and
Motyka, R. J.: Ice mélange dynamics and implications for terminus
stability, Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, J. Geophys. Res.,
115, F01005, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jf001405, 2010. a
Andrews, J. T., Milliman, J. D., Jennings, A. E., Rynes, N., and Dwyer, J.:
Sediment Thicknesses and Holocene Glacial Marine Sedimentation Rates in
Three East Greenland Fjords (ca. 68∘ N), The J. Geol., 102,
669–683, https://doi.org/10.1086/629711,
1994. a
Azetsu-Scott, K. and Syvitski, J. P. M.: Influence of melting icebergs on
distribution, characteristics and transport of marine particles in an East
Greenland fjord, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 104, 5321–5328,
https://doi.org/10.1029/1998jc900083,
1999. a
Bevan, S. L., Luckman, A. J., and Murray, T.: Glacier dynamics over the last quarter of a century at Helheim, Kangerdlugssuaq and 14 other major
Greenland outlet glaciers, The Cryosphere, 6, 923–937,
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-923-2012,
2012. a, b
Bevan, S. L., Luckman, A., Khan, S. A., and Murray, T.: Seasonal dynamic
thinning at Helheim Glacier, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 415,
47–53, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.01.031,
2015. a
Bevan, S., Luckman, A., Benn, D., Cowton, T., and Todd, J.: Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier Sentinel 1 Synthetic Aperture Radar movie, 2015–2018, Discovery Metadata System, https://doi.org/10.5285/61100705-dfbc-489d-b729-1268ec743bbf, 2019a. a
Bevan, S., Luckman, A., Benn, D., Cowton, T., and Todd, J.:
Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier ice front positions, 1985–2018, Discovery Metadata System, https://doi.org/10.5285/b317f707-2ef6-449c-acc3-6bb087efecb1, 2019b. a
Bevan, S., Luckman, A., Benn, D., Cowton, T., and Todd, J.:
Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier surface elevations, 2012–2018, Discovery Metadata System, https://doi.org/10.5285/3bbacca6-d2cd-46be-b824-b828572ca486, 2019c. a
Bevan, S., Luckman, A., Benn, D., Cowton, T., and Todd, J.:
Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier surface flow speeds from feature tracking, 1985–2018, Discovery Metadata System, https://doi.org/10.5285/c26e3873-e33e-45be-b76b-87f3b8827101, 2019d. a
Brough, S., Carr, J. R., Ross, N., and Lea, J. M.: Exceptional Retreat of
Kangerlussuaq Glacier, East Greenland, Between 2016 and 2018,
Front. Earth Sci., 7, 123, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00123,
2019. a
Burton, J. C., Amundson, J. M., Cassotto, R., Kuo, C.-C. C., and Dennin, M.:
Quantifying flow and stress in ice mélange, the world's largest granular
material., P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 115, 5105–5110, 2018. a
Cassotto, R., Fahnestock, M., Amundson, J. M., Truffer, M., and Joughin, I.:
Seasonal and interannual variations in ice melange and its impact on terminus
stability, Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, J. Glaciol., 61,
76–88, https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG13J235,
2015. a
Christoffersen, P., Mugford, R. I., Heywood, K. J., Joughin, I., Dowdeswell,
J. A., Syvitski, J. P. M., Luckman, A., and Benham, T. J.: Warming of
waters in an East Greenland fjord prior to glacier retreat: mechanisms
and connection to large-scale atmospheric conditions, The Cryosphere, 5,
701–714, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-701-2011,
2011. a, b, c
Christoffersen, P., O'Leary, M., Van Angelen, J. H., and Van Den Broeke, M.:
Partitioning effects from ocean and atmosphere on the calving stability of
Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier, East Greenland, Ann. Glaciol., 53,
249–256, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012aog60a087,
2012. a
Cowton, T., Sole, A., Nienow, P., Slater, D., Wilton, D., and Hanna, E.:
Controls on the transport of oceanic heat to Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier, East
Greenland, J. Glaciol., 62, 1167–1180,
https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.117, 2016. a, b, c, d
Cowton, T. R., Sole, A. J., Nienow, P. W., Slater, D. A., and Christoffersen,
P.: Linear response of east Greenland's tidewater glaciers to
ocean/atmosphere warming, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,
115, 7907–7912, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1801769115, 2018. a
Dowdeswell, J.:
Cruise report – JR106b, RSS James Clark Ross, Kangerdlugssuaq Fjord and shelf, east Greenland,
NERC Autosub Under Ice thematic programme, 2004 a
Dowdeswell, J. A., Evans, J., and Cofaigh: Submarine landforms and shallow
acoustic stratigraphy of a 400 km-long fjord-shelf-slope transect,
Kangerlussuaq margin, East Greenland, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 29,
3359–3369, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.06.006,
2010. a
Enderlin, E. M., Howat, I. M., and Vieli, A.: High sensitivity of tidewater
outlet glacier dynamics to shape, The Cryosphere, 7, 1007–1015,
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1007-2013,
2013. a
Enderlin, E. M., Howat, I. M., Jeong, S., Noh, M.-J., van Angelen, J. H., and
van den Broeke, M. R.: An improved mass budget for the Greenland ice sheet,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 2013GL059010+, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013gl059010,
2014. a
Fraser, N. J. and Inall, M. E.: Influence of Barrier Wind Forcing on Heat
Delivery Towards the Greenland Ice Sheet, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 123, 2513–2538, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017jc013464, 2018. a
Fried, M. J., Catania, G. A., Stearns, L. A., Sutherland, D. A., Bartholomaus,
T. C., Shroyer, E., and Nash, J.: Reconciling Drivers of Seasonal
Terminus Advance and Retreat at 13 Central West Greenland
Tidewater Glaciers, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth Surf., 123, 1590–1607,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jf004628,
2018. a
Hanna, E., Cappelen, J., Fettweis, X., Huybrechts, P., Luckman, A., and
Ribergaard, M. H.: Hydrologic response of the Greenland ice sheet: the role
of oceanographic warming, Hydrol. Process., 23, 7–30,
https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7090, 2009. a
Howat, I. M. and Eddy, A.: Multi-decadal retreat of Greenland's
marine-terminating glaciers, J. Glaciol., 57, 389–396,
https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311796905631,
2011. a
Howat, I. M., Joughin, I., Tulaczyk, S., and Gogineni, S.: Rapid retreat and
acceleration of Helheim Glacier, east Greenland, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 32, L22502+, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005gl024737,
2005. a
Howat, I. M., Joughin, I., Fahnestock, M., Smith, B. E., and Scambos, T. A.:
Synchronous retreat and acceleration of southeast Greenland outlet glaciers
2000–06: ice dynamics and coupling to climate, J.
Glaciol., 54, 646–660, https://doi.org/10.3189/002214308786570908,
2008. a
Howat, I. M., Box, J. E., Ahn, Y., Herrington, A., and McFadden, E. M.:
Seasonal variability in the dynamics of marine-terminating outlet glaciers
in Greenland, J. Glaciol., 56, 601–613,
https://doi.org/10.3189/002214310793146232,
2010.
Howat, I. M., Negrete, A., and Smith, B. E.: The Greenland Ice Mapping Project
(GIMP) land classification and surface elevation data sets, The Cryosphere,
8, 1509–1518, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1509-2014,
2014. a, b, c
Jackson, R. H., Straneo, F., and Sutherland, D. A.: Externally forced
fluctuations in ocean temperature at Greenland glaciers in
non-summer months, Nat. Geosci., 7, 503–508, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2186,
2014. a, b
Jakobsson, M., Mayer, L., Coakley, B., Dowdeswell, J. A., Forbes, S., Fridman,
B., Hodnesdal, H., Noormets, R., Pedersen, R., Rebesco, M., Schenke, H. W.,
Zarayskaya, Y., Accettella, D., Armstrong, A., Anderson, R. M., Bienhoff, P., Camerlenghi, A., Church, I., Edwards, M., Gardner, J. V., Hall, J. K., Hell, B., Hestvik, O., Kristoffersen, Y., Marcussen, C., Mohammad, R., Mosher, D., Nghiem, S. V., Pedrosa, M. T., Travaglini, P. G., and Weatherall, P.: The
International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) Version 3.0,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L12609, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012gl052219,
2012. a
Kehrl, L. M., Joughin, I., Shean, D. E., Floricioiu, D., and Krieger, L.:
Seasonal and interannual variabilities in terminus position, glacier
velocity, and surface elevation at Helheim and Kangerlussuaq Glaciers from
2008 to 2016, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth Surf., 122, 2016JF004133+,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jf004133,
2017. a, b, c, d, e, f
Khan, S. A., Kjeldsen, K. K., Kjær, K. H., Bevan, S., Luckman, A.,
Aschwanden, A., Bjørk, A. A., Korsgaard, N. J., Box, J. E., van den
Broeke, M., van Dam, T. M., and Fitzner, A.: Glacier dynamics at Helheim and
Kangerdlugssuaq glaciers, southeast Greenland, since the Little Ice Age, The Cryosphere, 8, 1497–1507, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1497-2014,
2014. a, b, c
Krabill, W.: Greenland Ice Sheet: Increased coastal thinning, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 31, L24402, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004gl021533,
2004. a
Krabill, W., Abdalati, W., Frederick, E., Manizade, S., Martin, C., Sonntag,
J., Swift, R., Thomas, R., Wright, W., and Yungel, J.: Greenland ice sheet:
High-elevation balance and peripheral thinning, Science, 289, 428–430,
2000. a
Krieger, G., Zink, M., Bachmann, M., Bräutigam, B., Schulze, D., Martone,
M., Rizzoli, P., Steinbrecher, U., Walter Antony, J., De Zan, F., Hajnsek,
I., Papathanassiou, K., Kugler, F., Rodriguez Cassola, M., Younis, M.,
Baumgartner, S., López-Dekker, P., Prats, P., and Moreira, A.: TanDEM-X:
A radar interferometer with two formation-flying satellites, Acta
Astronaut., 89, 83–98, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.03.008,
2013. a
Krug, J., Durand, G., Gagliardini, O., and Weiss, J.: Modelling the impact of submarine frontal melting and ice mélange on glacier dynamics, The
Cryosphere, 9, 989–1003, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-989-2015, 2015. a, b
Luckman, A., Murray, T., de Lange, R., and Hanna, E.: Rapid and synchronous
ice-dynamic changes in East Greenland, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33,
33729+, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005gl025428,
2006. a, b
Luckman, A., Benn, D. I., Cottier, F., Bevan, S., Nilsen, F., and Inall, M.:
Calving rates at tidewater glaciers vary strongly with ocean temperature,
Nat. Commun., 6, 8566, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9566,
2015. a
Millan, R., Rignot, E., Mouginot, J., Wood, M., Bjørk, A. A., and Morlighem,
M.: Vulnerability of Southeast Greenland Glaciers to Warm Atlantic Water
From Operation IceBridge and Ocean Melting Greenland Data, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 45, 2688–2696, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017gl076561,
2018. a, b
Moon, T., Joughin, I., Smith, B., and Howat, I.: 21st-Century Evolution of
Greenland Outlet Glacier Velocities, Science, 336, 576–578,
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1219985,
2012. a
Moon, T., Joughin, I., and Smith, B.: Seasonal to multiyear variability of
glacier surface velocity, terminus position, and sea ice/ice mélange in
northwest Greenland: NW GLACIER VARIABILITY, J. Geophys.
Res.-Earth Surf., 120, 818–833, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015jf003494,
2015. a
Morlighem, M., Williams, C. N., Rignot, E., An, L., Arndt, J. E., Bamber,
J. L., Catania, G., Chauché, N., Dowdeswell, J. A., Dorschel, B., Fenty,
I., Hogan, K., Howat, I., Hubbard, A., Jakobsson, M., Jordan, T. M.,
Kjeldsen, K. K., Millan, R., Mayer, L., Mouginot, J., Noël, B. P. Y.,
O'Cofaigh, C., Palmer, S., Rysgaard, S., Seroussi, H., Siegert, M. J.,
Slabon, P., Straneo, F., van den Broeke, M. R., Weinrebe, W., Wood, M., and
Zinglersen, K. B.: BedMachine v3: Complete Bed Topography and Ocean
Bathymetry Mapping of Greenland From Multibeam Echo Sounding Combined With
Mass Conservation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 2017GL074954+,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017gl074954,
2017. a, b, c, d
Murray, T., Scharrer, K., James, T. D., Dye, S. R., Hanna, E., Booth, A. D.,
Selmes, N., Luckman, A., Hughes, A. L. C., Cook, S., and Huybrechts, P.:
Ocean regulation hypothesis for glacier dynamics in southeast Greenland and
implications for ice sheet mass changes, J. Geophys. Res., 115,
F03026, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jf001522,
2010. a, b
OMG Mission (2016): Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) data from the ocean survey. Ver. 0.1. OMG SDS, CA, USA,
https://doi.org/10.5067/OMGEV-AXCTD, 2018. a
Rignot, E. and Kanagaratnam, P.: Changes in the velocity structure of the
Greenland ice sheet, Science, 311, 986–990, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1121381,
2006. a
Schoof, C.: Ice sheet grounding line dynamics: Steady states, stability, and
hysteresis, J. Geophys. Res., 112, F03S28+, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006jf000664,
2007.
a
Shepherd, A., Ivins, E. R., Geruo, A., Barletta, V. R., Bentley, M. J.,
Bettadpur, S., Briggs, K. H., Bromwich, D. H., Forsberg, R., Galin, N.,
Horwath, M., Jacobs, S., Joughin, I., King, M. A., Lenaerts, J. T. M., Li,
J., Ligtenberg, S. R. M., Luckman, A., Luthcke, S. B., McMillan, M., Meister,
R., Milne, G., Mouginot, J., Muir, A., Nicolas, J. P., Paden, J., Payne,
A. J., Pritchard, H., Rignot, E., Rott, H., Sørensen, L. S., Scambos,
T. A., Scheuchl, B., Schrama, E. J. O., Smith, B., Sundal, A. V., van
Angelen, J. H., van de Berg, W. J., van den Broeke, M. R., Vaughan, D. G.,
Velicogna, I., Wahr, J., Whitehouse, P. L., Wingham, D. J., Yi, D., Young,
D., and Zwally, H. J.: A Reconciled Estimate of Ice-Sheet Mass Balance,
Science, 338, 1183–1189, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1228102,
2012. a
Straneo, F. and Heimbach, P.: North Atlantic warming and the retreat of
Greenland's outlet glaciers, Nature, 504, 36–43, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12854,
2013. a, b, c
Straneo, F., Sutherland, D. A., Holland, D., Gladish, C., Hamilton, G. S.,
Johnson, H. L., Rignot, E., Xu, Y., and Koppes, M.: Characteristics of ocean
waters reaching Greenland's glaciers, Ann. Glaciol., 53,
202–210, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012aog60a059,
2012. a
Sutherland, D. A., Straneo, F., and Pickart, R. S.: Characteristics and
dynamics of two major Greenland glacial fjords, J. Geophys.
Res.-Oceans, 119, 3767–3791, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013jc009786, 2014. a, b, c
Timmermans, M.-L.: Sea Surface Temperature, in Arctic Report Card 2016, available at: http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card (last access: February 2019), 2016. a
Todd, J. and Christoffersen, P.: Are seasonal calving dynamics forced by
buttressing from ice mélange or undercutting by melting? Outcomes from
full-Stokes simulations of Store Glacier, West Greenland, The Cryosphere, 8,
2353–2365, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-2353-2014, 2014. a
Todd, J., Christoffersen, P., Zwinger, T., Råback, P., Chauché, N., Benn, D.,
Luckman, A., Ryan, J., Toberg, N., Slater, D., and Hubbard, A.: A
Full-Stokes 3-D Calving Model Applied to a Large Greenlandic
Glacier, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth Surf., 123, 410–432,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017jf004349, 2018. a
van den Broeke, M. R., Enderlin, E. M., Howat, I. M., Kuipers Munneke, P.,
Noël, B. P. Y., van de Berg, W. J., van Meijgaard, E., and Wouters, B.:
On the recent contribution of the Greenland ice sheet to sea level change, The Cryosphere, 10, 1933–1946, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1933-2016,
2016. a
Short summary
Kangerlussuaq Glacier in Greenland retreated significantly in the early 2000s and typified the response of calving glaciers to climate change. Satellite images show that it has recently retreated even further. The current retreat follows the appearance of extremely warm surface waters on the continental shelf during the summer of 2016, which likely entered the fjord and caused the rigid mass of sea ice and icebergs, which normally inhibits calving, to melt and break up.
Kangerlussuaq Glacier in Greenland retreated significantly in the early 2000s and typified the...
