The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
TC
Articles | Volume 14, issue 6
Articles | Volume 14, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1951-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1951-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 14, issue 6
Research article
 | 
18 Jun 2020
Research article |  | 18 Jun 2020

Surface emergence of glacial plumes determined by fjord stratification

Eva De Andrés, Donald A. Slater, Fiamma Straneo, Jaime Otero, Sarah Das, and Francisco Navarro

Data sets

Temperature and salinity profiles adjacent to a tidewater glacier in Sarqardleq Fjord, West Greenland, collected during July 2013 Fiamma Straneo https://doi.org/10.18739/A2B853H78

Eastward and northward components of ocean current profiles from ADCP taken from small boat in Sarqardleq Fjord adjacent to a tidewater glacier, West Greenland from 2013-07-25 to 2013-07-27 Fiamma Straneo, Clark Richards,and James Holte https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0177127

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Short summary
Buoyant plumes at tidewater glaciers result from localized subglacial discharges of surface melt. They promote glacier submarine melting and influence the delivery of nutrients to the fjord's surface waters. Combining plume theory with observations, we have found that increased fjord stratification, which is due to larger meltwater content, prevents the vertical growth of the plume and buffers submarine melting. We discuss the implications for nutrient fluxes, CO2 trapping and water export.
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