Jökulhlaups and sediment transport in Watson River, Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland

Abstract

For 3 years, during a 4-year observation period (2007–2010), jökulhlaups were observed from a lake at the northern margin of Russells Gletscher. At a gauging station located on a bedrock sill near the outlet of Watson River into Sdr Strømfjord, discharge and sediment transport was monitored during the jökulhlaups. The stage rose up to 5.3 m and a maximum discharge of 1,430 m3 s−1 was recorded. The jökulhlaups were very different, indicating varying influences of weather and englacial drainage conditions. Although the jökulhlaups caused high discharge and sediment transport rates, their share of the annual discharge and sediment transport were less than 2%.