Articles | Volume 20, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5071-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5071-2026
Research article
 | 
09 Sep 2026
Research article |  | 09 Sep 2026

Mélange, landfast sea ice, ice velocities: What controls seasonal calving rates in North West Greenland?

Sofie Hedetoft, Olivia Bang Brinck, Ruth Mottram, Andrea M. U. Gierisch, Steffen Malskær Olsen, Martin Olesen, Nicolaj Hansen, Anders Anker Bjørk, Erik Loebel, Anne Solgaard, and Peter Thejll

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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. Earth Surf., 115, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JF001405, 2010. a, b, c
Amundson, J. M., Kienholz, C., Hager, A. O., Jackson, R. H., Motyka, R. J., Nash, J. D., and Sutherland, D. A.: Formation, flow and break-up of ephemeral ice mélange at LeConte Glacier and Bay, Alaska, J. Glaciol., 66, 577–590, https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.29, 2020. a, b, c, d
Amundson, J. M., Truffer, M., and Zwinger, T.: Tidewater glacier response to individual calving events, J. Glaciol., 68, 1117–1126, https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.26, 2022. a
Bang Brinck, O., Hedetoft, S., and Mottram, R.: Mélange or landfast ice: What controls seasonal calving at Greenland outlet glaciers? Workbenches for Earth Observation and in-situ data processing, Zenodo [data set] https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15195630, 2025. a, b
Benn, D. I., Warren, C. R., and Mottram, R. H.: Calving processes and the dynamics of calving glaciers, Earth Sci. Rev., 82, 143–179, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2007.02.002, wOS:000247798300001, 2007. a, b, c, d
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Short summary
Iceberg mélange is the jumble of icebergs in front of some glaciers that calve into the sea. Some studies suggest mélange might help to control the retreat of glaciers. We studied 3 glaciers in NW Greenland where we used GPS sensors and satellites to track ice movement. We found that glaciers push forward and calve all year, including when mélange and landfast sea ice are present, suggesting mélange is not important in supporting glaciers, but may influence the seasonal calving cycle.
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