The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
TC
Articles | Volume 15, issue 12
Articles | Volume 15, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5409-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5409-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 15, issue 12
Research article
 | 
07 Dec 2021
Research article |  | 07 Dec 2021

Generation and fate of basal meltwater during winter, western Greenland Ice Sheet

Joel Harper, Toby Meierbachtol, Neil Humphrey, Jun Saito, and Aidan Stansberry

Data sets

Basal water pressure measured in boreholes drilled to the bed of Western Greenland: 2014-2017 Toby Meierbachtol https://doi.org/10.18739/A2VQ2SB3C

Global Positioning System (GPS) positions and in situ ice deformation from borehole inclinometry measurements in Western Greenland, winter 2015-16 Nathan Maier https://doi.org/10.18739/A2154DP90

Near-surface ice temperature measurements from Western Greenland, 2011-2017 Benjamin Hills https://doi.org/10.18739/A2QV3C418

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Short summary
We use surface and borehole measurements to investigate the generation and fate of basal meltwater in the ablation zone of western Greenland. The rate of basal meltwater generation at borehole study sites increases by up to 20 % over the winter period. Accommodation of all basal meltwater by expansion of isolated subglacial cavities is implausible. Other sinks for water do not likely balance basal meltwater generation, implying water evacuation through a connected drainage system in winter.
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