Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2017-5
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2017-5
01 Feb 2017
 | 01 Feb 2017
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Multi-year surface velocities and sea-level rise contribution of the Basin-3 and Basin-2 surges, Austfonna, Svalbard

Thomas Schellenberger, Thorben Dunse, Andreas Kääb, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Jon Ove Hagen, and Carleen H. Reijmer

Abstract. Basin-3, the largest outlet basin of the Austfonna ice cap, started to surge in autumn 2012. A maximum velocity of 18.8 m d-1 was found in December 2012 / January 2013. Here we present a time series of area wide velocity fields from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) offset tracking and Global Positioning System (GPS) data in the aftermath of the velocity maximum, extending the previously published data from May 2013 to July 2016. We find that terminus velocity slowed down by ~ 50 % until spring 2014, whereas the upper parts of the basin continued to speed-up and reached their maximum only in summer 2014. Until the date of writing (July 2016), Basin-3 maintained high velocity with maxima between 8.9–11.4 m d-1. Summer speed-ups were superimposed even on the otherwise fast surge motion. The total frontal ablation Af over the period 19 April 2012 to 26 July 2016 was calculated to 22.2 ± 8.1 Gt (5.2 ± 1.9 Gt yr-1) from the ice mass flux qfg = 33.2 ± 11.5 Gt (7.8 ± 2.7 Gt yr-1) and the terminus mass change qt = 11.0 ± 3.4 Gt (2.6 ± 0.8 Gt yr-1). Additional advance of the terminus led to a total sea-level rise equivalent of 31.3 ± 11.2 Gt (7.3 ± 2.6 Gt yr-1).

This rate of frontal ablation roughly equals previous estimates of both the calving flux and total mass loss from the entire archipelago, resulting in a doubling of the current ice-mass loss from Svalbard. In vicinity of Basin-3, we also observe a terminus advance and a speed-up of the northern part of Basin-2 starting in autumn 2014, with surface velocity reaching 8.71 m d-1 in August 2015. The related ice mass loss of Basin-2 between 20 June 2015 and 26 July 2016 amounts to 0.8 Gt (min: 0.3 Gt, max: 1.6 Gt). Accounting also for the replacement of ocean water, we find a total sea-level rise equivalent of 1.1 Gt (min: 0.5 Gt, max: 2.1 Gt).

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Thomas Schellenberger, Thorben Dunse, Andreas Kääb, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Jon Ove Hagen, and Carleen H. Reijmer

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Thomas Schellenberger, Thorben Dunse, Andreas Kääb, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Jon Ove Hagen, and Carleen H. Reijmer
Thomas Schellenberger, Thorben Dunse, Andreas Kääb, Thomas Vikhamar Schuler, Jon Ove Hagen, and Carleen H. Reijmer

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Latest update: 15 Oct 2024
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Short summary
Basin-3, NE-Svalbard, was still surging with 10 m d-1 in July 2016. After a speed peak of 18.8 m d-1 in Dec 2012/Jan 2013, speed-ups are overlying the fast flow every summer. The glacier is massively calving icebergs (5.2 Gt yr-1 ~ 2 L drinking water for every human being daily!) which in the same order of magnitude as all other Svalbard glaciers together. Since autumn 2015 also Basin-2 is surging with maximum velocities of 8.7 m d-1, an advance of more than 2 km and a mass loss of 0.7 Gt yr-1.