Mélange variability around Greenland yields insights into calving dynamics and conditions that favor mélange formation
Abstract
The presence of proglacial mélange adjacent to marine terminating outlet glaciers is thought to play a significant role on calving behavior and glacier stability by exerting a buttressing effect on the calving face. However, most studies focus on single glacier systems and the variability of characteristics (rigidity, extent) within permanent mélange. Many glaciers around Greenland have a short-lived mélange that persists for a week or several weeks. We create time series of mélange occurrence around the Greenland Ice Sheet from 2017 - present, using Google Earth Engine. We compare these results with our coincident databases of terminus position and iceberg distributions, and publicly-available data of glacier velocity. By exploring the behavior of glaciers with and without a pro-glacial mélange, we assess whether mélange occurrence impacts calving dynamics. In addition, we quantify metrics (glacier and fjord geometry, fjord conditions, calving style) that favor short-lived mélange formation.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AGUFMC020.0002S
- Keywords:
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- 0720 Glaciers;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 0728 Ice shelves;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 0730 Ice streams;
- CRYOSPHERE;
- 0774 Dynamics;
- CRYOSPHERE