The seasonal evolution of subglacial drainage pathways beneath a soft-bedded glacier
The seasonal evolution of subglacial drainage pathways beneath a soft-bedded glacier
Subglacial hydrology is a key element in glacier response to climate change, but investigations of this environment are logistically difficult. Most models are based on summer data from glaciers resting on rigid bedrocks. However a significant number of glaciers rest on soft (unconsolidated sedimentary) beds. Here we present a unique multi-year instrumented record of the development of seasonal subglacial behavior associated with an Icelandic temperate glacier resting on a deformable sediment layer. We observe a distinct annual pattern in the subglacial hydrology based on self-organizing anastomosing braided channels. Water is stored within the subglacial system itself (till, braided system and ‘ponds’), allowing the rapid access of water to enable glacier speed-up events to occur throughout the year, particularly in winter.
Glacier, subglacial processes, subglacial hydrology, environmental sensor networks, Climate change
Hart, Jane K.
e949a885-7b26-4544-9e15-32ba6f87e49a
Young, David S.
05bfdb8c-9675-470a-9dcb-5af247e1b4ca
Baurley, Nathaniel
4f7b08da-72ac-42c8-be5d-a2893f09318b
Robson, Benjamin A.
6fe09b19-d4f0-4163-85ab-01c1514640c1
Martinez, Kirk
5f711898-20fc-410e-a007-837d8c57cb18
30 June 2022
Hart, Jane K.
e949a885-7b26-4544-9e15-32ba6f87e49a
Young, David S.
05bfdb8c-9675-470a-9dcb-5af247e1b4ca
Baurley, Nathaniel
4f7b08da-72ac-42c8-be5d-a2893f09318b
Robson, Benjamin A.
6fe09b19-d4f0-4163-85ab-01c1514640c1
Martinez, Kirk
5f711898-20fc-410e-a007-837d8c57cb18
Hart, Jane K., Young, David S., Baurley, Nathaniel, Robson, Benjamin A. and Martinez, Kirk
(2022)
The seasonal evolution of subglacial drainage pathways beneath a soft-bedded glacier.
Communications Earth & Environment, 3 (1), [152].
(doi:10.1038/s43247-022-00484-9).
Abstract
Subglacial hydrology is a key element in glacier response to climate change, but investigations of this environment are logistically difficult. Most models are based on summer data from glaciers resting on rigid bedrocks. However a significant number of glaciers rest on soft (unconsolidated sedimentary) beds. Here we present a unique multi-year instrumented record of the development of seasonal subglacial behavior associated with an Icelandic temperate glacier resting on a deformable sediment layer. We observe a distinct annual pattern in the subglacial hydrology based on self-organizing anastomosing braided channels. Water is stored within the subglacial system itself (till, braided system and ‘ponds’), allowing the rapid access of water to enable glacier speed-up events to occur throughout the year, particularly in winter.
Text
s43247-022-00484-9
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 30 May 2022
Published date: 30 June 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the Glacsweb Iceland 2008, 2011 and 2012 teams for help with probe development and data collection. They would also like to thank Matthew Roberts and Óðinn Þórarinsson, Icelandic Meteorological office for help with data queries and we acknowledge The Icelandic Meteorological Office for the delivery of data from the Hydrological database, no. 2017-09-20/01. We also thank Aude Vincent for insight into hydrological issues. Thanks also go to Lyn Ertl in the Cartographic Unit for figure preparation. This research was funded by EPSRC (EP/C511050/1), Leverhulme (F/00180/AK) and the National Geographic (GEFNE45-12) and the GPR and Leica 1200 GPS units were loaned from the NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the Glacsweb Iceland 2008, 2011 and 2012 teams for help with probe development and data collection. They would also like to thank Matthew Roberts and Óðinn Þórarinsson, Icelandic Meteorological office for help with data queries and we acknowledge The Icelandic Meteorological Office for the delivery of data from the Hydrological database, no. 2017-09-20/01. We also thank Aude Vincent for insight into hydrological issues. Thanks also go to Lyn Ertl in the Cartographic Unit for figure preparation. This research was funded by EPSRC (EP/C511050/1), Leverhulme (F/00180/AK) and the National Geographic (GEFNE45-12) and the GPR and Leica 1200 GPS units were loaned from the NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
Keywords:
Glacier, subglacial processes, subglacial hydrology, environmental sensor networks, Climate change
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 468429
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/468429
PURE UUID: bfb50173-8736-4cf7-841e-fbe36fcdc002
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 15 Aug 2022 16:40
Last modified: 24 Apr 2024 01:35
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
David S. Young
Author:
Nathaniel Baurley
Author:
Benjamin A. Robson
Author:
Kirk Martinez
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics