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Large fluctuations in speed on Greenland's Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier

Author

Listed:
  • Ian Joughin

    (Jet Propulsion Lab, California Institute of Technology
    University of Washington)

  • Waleed Abdalati

    (Oceans and Ice Branch, Code 971)

  • Mark Fahnestock

    (University of New Hampshire)

Abstract

It is important to understand recent changes in the velocity of Greenland glaciers because the mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet is partly determined by the flow rates of these outlets. Jakobshavn Isbræ is Greenland's largest outlet glacier1, draining about 6.5 per cent of the ice-sheet area, and it has been surveyed repeatedly since 1991 (ref. 2). Here we use remote sensing data to measure the velocity of Jakobshavn Isbræ between 1992 and 2003. We detect large variability of the velocity over time, including a slowing down from 6,700 m yr-1 in 1985 to 5,700 m yr-1 in 1992, and a subsequent speeding up to 9,400 m yr-1 by 2000 and 12,600 m yr-1 in 2003. These changes are consistent with earlier evidence for thickening of the glacier in the early 1990s and rapid thinning thereafter3. Our observations indicate that fast-flowing glaciers can significantly alter ice discharge at sub-decadal timescales, with at least a potential to respond rapidly to a changing climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Joughin & Waleed Abdalati & Mark Fahnestock, 2004. "Large fluctuations in speed on Greenland's Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7017), pages 608-610, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:432:y:2004:i:7017:d:10.1038_nature03130
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03130
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang Wang & Kaiheng Hu & Zhengzheng Li & Changhu Li & Yao Li, 2023. "Calculation Method of Material Accumulation Rate at the Front of Trunk Glaciers Based on Satellite Monitoring," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Caroline Katsman & A. Sterl & J. Beersma & H. Brink & J. Church & W. Hazeleger & R. Kopp & D. Kroon & J. Kwadijk & R. Lammersen & J. Lowe & M. Oppenheimer & H. Plag & J. Ridley & H. Storch & D. Vaugha, 2011. "Exploring high-end scenarios for local sea level rise to develop flood protection strategies for a low-lying delta—the Netherlands as an example," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 109(3), pages 617-645, December.
    3. Zhibo Gao & Xiaodong Yan, 2022. "High-Resolution Regional Climate Modeling and Projection of Heatwave Events over the Yangtze River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-13, January.

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