The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
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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

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Booth, A. D., Clark, R. A., Kulessa, B., Murray, T., Carter, J., Doyle, S., and Hubbard, A.: Thin-layer effects in glaciological seismic amplitude-versus-angle (AVA) analysis: implications for characterising a subglacial till unit, Russell Glacier, West Greenland, The Cryosphere, 6, 909–922, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-909-2012, 2012. 
Brinkerhoff, D. J., Meierbachtol, T. W., Johnson, J. V., and Harper, J. T.: Sensitivity of the frozen-melted basal boundary to perturbations of basal traction and geothermal heat flux: Isunnguata Sermia, western Greenland, Ann. Glaciol., 52, 43–50, 2011. 
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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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