Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1047-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1047-2025
Research article
 | 
06 Mar 2025
Research article |  | 06 Mar 2025

A comparison of supraglacial meltwater features throughout contrasting melt seasons: southwest Greenland

Emily Glen, Amber Leeson, Alison F. Banwell, Jennifer Maddalena, Diarmuid Corr, Olivia Atkins, Brice Noël, and Malcolm McMillan

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Cited articles

Arnold, N. S., Banwell, A. F., and Willis, I. C.: High-resolution modelling of the seasonal evolution of surface water storage on the Greenland Ice Sheet, The Cryosphere, 8, 1149–1160, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1149-2014, 2014. 
Arthur, J. F., Stokes, C. R., Jamieson, S. S. R., Carr, J. R., and Leeson, A. A.: Distribution and seasonal evolution of supraglacial lakes on Shackleton Ice Shelf, East Antarctica, The Cryosphere, 14, 4103–4120, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4103-2020, 2020. 
Banwell, A. F., Arnold, N. S., Willis, I. C., Tedesco, M., and Ahlstrøm, A. P.: Modeling supraglacial water routing and lake filling on the Greenland Ice Sheet, J. Geophys. Res., 117, F04012, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JF002393, 2012. 
Banwell, A. F., Willis, I. C., and Arnold N. S.: Modeling subglacial water routing at Paakitsoq, W Greenland, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 118, 1282–1295, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrf.20093, 2013. 
Banwell, A. F., Caballero, M., Arnold, N., Glasser, N., Mac Cathles, L., and MacAyeal, D.: Supraglacial lakes on the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctica, and at Paakitsoq, West Greenland: A comparative study, Ann. Glaciol., 55, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.3189/2014AoG66A049, 2014. 
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Short summary
We compare surface meltwater features from optical satellite imagery in the Russell–Leverett glacier catchment during high (2019) and low (2018) melt years. In the high melt year, features appear at higher elevations, meltwater systems are more connected, small lakes are more frequent, and slush is more widespread. These findings provide insights into how a warming climate, where high melt years become common, could alter meltwater distribution and dynamics on the Greenland Ice Sheet.
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