Continuous Terrestrial LiDAR data of Helheim Glacier to quantify ice-ocean interactions
Abstract
Processes occurring at the ice-ocean interface occur across a range of spatial (cm to km) and temporal (minutes to years) scales, making them difficult to capture with existing observational strategies. To quantify these processes, we installed an autonomous terrestrial LiDAR scanner (TLS) overlooking the terminus of Helheim Glacier, East Greenland in 2015. The TLS system uses a 1064 nm laser to survey the glacier every 6 hours at ranges up to 10 km. While the TLS captures a significant portion of the glacier terminus and mélange, the density of measurements drops off at range, limiting the effectiveness of a single scanning system. In July 2018, we installed a second autonomous system along the northern terminus of Helheim Glacier that enables imaging of the entire glacier terminus.
Our results show distinct spatial variations in horizontal and vertical ice motion related to different flow regimes at the terminus of Helheim Glacier. The portion of the terminus that is floating varies both spatially and temporally, and is usually heterogeneous across the glacier width. This heterogeneity leads to complex flow variability and calving behavior at the terminus. Long term scanning archives from these systems enhance our understanding of the relationships between ice flow, terminus dynamics, and mélange rheology.- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.C21B1327L
- Keywords:
-
- 0720 Glaciers;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0720 Glaciers;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0728 Ice shelves;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0728 Ice shelves;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0732 Icebergs;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0732 Icebergs;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0758 Remote sensing;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0758 Remote sensing;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0774 Dynamics;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0774 Dynamics;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0776 Glaciology;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0776 Glaciology;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0794 Instruments and techniques;
- CRYOSPHEREDE: 0794 Instruments and techniques;
- CRYOSPHERE