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Tidewater-glacier response to supraglacial lake drainage

Author

Listed:
  • Laura A. Stevens

    (University of Oxford)

  • Meredith Nettles

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • James L. Davis

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Timothy T. Creyts

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Jonathan Kingslake

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • Ian J. Hewitt

    (University of Oxford)

  • Aaron Stubblefield

    (Dartmouth College)

Abstract

The flow speed of the Greenland Ice Sheet changes dramatically in inland regions when surface meltwater drains to the bed. But ice-sheet discharge to the ocean is dominated by fast-flowing outlet glaciers, where the effect of increasing surface melt on annual discharge is unknown. Observations of a supraglacial lake drainage at Helheim Glacier, and a consequent velocity pulse propagating down-glacier, provide a natural experiment for assessing the impact of changes in injected meltwater, and allow us to interrogate the subglacial hydrological system. We find a highly efficient subglacial drainage system, such that summertime lake drainage has little net effect on ice discharge. Our results question the validity of common remote-sensing approaches for inferring subglacial conditions, knowledge of which is needed for improved projections of sea-level rise.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura A. Stevens & Meredith Nettles & James L. Davis & Timothy T. Creyts & Jonathan Kingslake & Ian J. Hewitt & Aaron Stubblefield, 2022. "Tidewater-glacier response to supraglacial lake drainage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33763-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33763-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laura A. Stevens & Mark D. Behn & Jeffrey J. McGuire & Sarah B. Das & Ian Joughin & Thomas Herring & David E. Shean & Matt A. King, 2015. "Correction: Corrigendum: Greenland supraglacial lake drainages triggered by hydrologically induced basal slip," Nature, Nature, vol. 525(7567), pages 144-144, September.
    2. R. Drews & F. Pattyn & I. J. Hewitt & F. S. L. Ng & S. Berger & K. Matsuoka & V. Helm & N. Bergeot & L. Favier & N. Neckel, 2017. "Actively evolving subglacial conduits and eskers initiate ice shelf channels at an Antarctic grounding line," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Ching-Yao Lai & Laura A. Stevens & Danielle L. Chase & Timothy T. Creyts & Mark D. Behn & Sarah B. Das & Howard A. Stone, 2021. "Hydraulic transmissivity inferred from ice-sheet relaxation following Greenland supraglacial lake drainages," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Gwenn E. Flowers, 2018. "Hydrology and the future of the Greenland Ice Sheet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-4, December.
    5. Peter A. Tuckett & Jeremy C. Ely & Andrew J. Sole & Stephen J. Livingstone & Benjamin J. Davison & J. Melchior van Wessem & Joshua Howard, 2019. "Rapid accelerations of Antarctic Peninsula outlet glaciers driven by surface melt," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    6. Christian Schoof, 2010. "Ice-sheet acceleration driven by melt supply variability," Nature, Nature, vol. 468(7325), pages 803-806, December.
    7. Matthew J. Hoffman & Lauren C. Andrews & Stephen F. Price & Ginny A. Catania & Thomas A. Neumann & Martin P. Lüthi & Jason Gulley & Claudia Ryser & Robert L. Hawley & Blaine Morriss, 2016. "Greenland subglacial drainage evolution regulated by weakly connected regions of the bed," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Laura A. Stevens & Mark D. Behn & Jeffrey J. McGuire & Sarah B. Das & Ian Joughin & Thomas Herring & David E. Shean & Matt A. King, 2015. "Greenland supraglacial lake drainages triggered by hydrologically induced basal slip," Nature, Nature, vol. 522(7554), pages 73-76, June.
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