Modeling iceberg‐rafted sedimentation in high‐latitude fjord environments

Abstract

An iceberg model, SedBerg, has been developed to simulate sedimentation in high‐latitude glaciated fjords. Sediments deposited in fjords provide an important record of glaciological response to changing climatic conditions. The model simulates the formation, drift, and melt of a population of icebergs utilizing Monte Carlo–based techniques with a number of underlying parametric probability distributions to describe the stochastic behavior of iceberg formation and dynamics. The model captures iceberg dynamics and melt in fjord environments and has been applied to Kangerdlugssuaq Fjord in east Greenland as an example of an iceberg‐dominated sedimentary environment. Sedimentation has been simulated over the past 1500 years, encompassing the climatic intervals of the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). Model results have been compared with the observed sedimentary record. The model demonstrates that the glaciological regime, e.g., basal debris thickness, mean annual calving rate, mean iceberg size, plays a more important role than the direct influence of climate (ocean and air temperatures) on iceberg sedimentation rate, although often changes in climate result in changes to the glaciological regime.