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Concurrent superimposed ice formation and meltwater runoff on Greenland’s ice slabs

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew Tedstone

    (University of Fribourg
    University of Lausanne)

  • Horst Machguth

    (University of Fribourg)

  • Nicole Clerx

    (University of Fribourg
    École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

  • Nicolas Jullien

    (University of Fribourg)

  • Hannah Picton

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Julien Ducrey

    (University of Fribourg)

  • Dirk van As

    (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland)

  • Paolo Colosio

    (University of Brescia)

  • Marco Tedesco

    (Columbia University)

  • Stef Lhermitte

    (KU Leuven
    Delft University of Technology)

Abstract

Rivers and slush fields on the Greenland Ice Sheet increasingly develop in locations where the accumulation zone hosts near-impermeable ice slabs. However, the division between runoff versus retention in these areas remains unmeasured. We present field measurements of superimposed ice formation onto slabs around the visible runoff limit. The quantity of superimposed ice varies by proximity to visible surface water and the surface slope, highlighting that meltwater can flow laterally before refreezing. We use heat conduction modelling and radar observations of autumn wetness to show that in our field area in 2022, 65% of superimposed ice formed during summer and the rest during autumn in the relict supraglacial hydrological network. Overall, 84% of melt around the visible runoff limit refroze. Ice-sheet-wide we estimate that slabs refroze 56 gigatonnes of melt (26-69 gigatonnes according to slab extent) between 2017 and 2022. Slabs are thus both hotspots of refreezing and emerging zones of runoff.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Tedstone & Horst Machguth & Nicole Clerx & Nicolas Jullien & Hannah Picton & Julien Ducrey & Dirk van As & Paolo Colosio & Marco Tedesco & Stef Lhermitte, 2025. "Concurrent superimposed ice formation and meltwater runoff on Greenland’s ice slabs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59237-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59237-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brice Noël & Jan T. M. Lenaerts & William H. Lipscomb & Katherine Thayer-Calder & Michiel R. Broeke, 2022. "Peak refreezing in the Greenland firn layer under future warming scenarios," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Riley Culberg & Dustin M. Schroeder & Winnie Chu, 2021. "Extreme melt season ice layers reduce firn permeability across Greenland," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Andrew J. Tedstone & Horst Machguth, 2022. "Increasing surface runoff from Greenland’s firn areas," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(7), pages 672-676, July.
    4. Thomas Slater & Andrew Shepherd & Malcolm McMillan & Amber Leeson & Lin Gilbert & Alan Muir & Peter Kuipers Munneke & Brice Noël & Xavier Fettweis & Michiel Broeke & Kate Briggs, 2021. "Increased variability in Greenland Ice Sheet runoff from satellite observations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. M. MacFerrin & H. Machguth & D. van As & C. Charalampidis & C. M. Stevens & A. Heilig & B. Vandecrux & P. L. Langen & R. Mottram & X. Fettweis & M. R. van den Broeke & W. T. Pfeffer & M. S. Moussavi &, 2019. "Rapid expansion of Greenland’s low-permeability ice slabs," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7774), pages 403-407, September.
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