Temperate Glaciers Research Articles

Controls on spatial variations of glacial erosion in the Qilian Shan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Understanding interactions between topography and glacial erosion is a key to advancing knowledge of mountain landscape evolution and is often hampered by the lack of quantitative data for glacial erosion. Here, we examine spatial variations in glacial erosion in the Qilian Shan using a power law model (y = axb) fit to cross profiles of glacial valleys. We further analyze the impacts of glacial dynamics, topography, and lithology on the degree of glacial erosion using qualitative and quantitative methods. Although the distribution of glacial erosion is controlled by the combined effects of glacial dynamics, topography, and lithology, average glacier size or ice flux and mean slope above the equilibrium line altitude are dominant controls. In addition, the topographic data analyzed through a b-FR diagram suggests two opposite types of glacial valley cross-profile development: temperate (maritime) glacier valleys are mainly dominated by overdeepening; while continental glacier valleys are mainly dominated by a widening process, although this varies with lithology.

Dynamics of an outburst flood originating from a small and high-altitude glacier in the Arid Andes of Chile

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are common where highly dynamic temperate glaciers exist, since seasonal changes in ice-conduit dynamics can start rapid lake drainages. Lakes dammed by cold-based glaciers, however, are less common and GLOFs from these glaciers have been rarely reported. Understanding both the origin and the failure mechanisms of lakes dammed by cold-based glaciers and subsequent flood processes is essential for territorial planning. We study a remarkable GLOF triggered by the failure of a subglacial lake in the Manflas Valley, Arid Andes of Chile, in 1985 providing insights into the lake’s origin, clarifying the failure mechanism and modelling the GLOF event-related dynamics. To identify the factors that contributed to the lake formation and failure, we analysed remotely sensed images, meteorological and topographic data. The GLOF dynamics were reconstructed using empirical (LAHARZ and MSF) and physical models (RAMMS). The obtained results were compared with field data of flow extent, depth and velocity. We show that the failed lake (4 × 106 m3) formed in a low-slope (≤ 10°) area and that extreme (≥ 90th percentile) annual precipitation before the GLOF contributed to the lake filling and probably to the dam collapse. The lake likely drained rapidly after mechanical failure of the ice-dam producing a high energy sediment-laden flow. We show the challenges of modelling large flows over long distances (dozens of kilometres) especially when flows change between Newtonian and Non-Newtonian phases. A GLOF can still endanger the Manflas Valley since a remnant of the lake of about 220.000 m3 exists and economic assets are located along the1985 GLOF path.

The Glacial Geomorphology of the Ice Cap Piedmont Lobe Landsystem of East Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland

A surficial geology and geomorphology map of the forelands of the Sandfellsjökull and Oldufellsjökull piedmont lobes of the east Mýrdalsjökull ice cap is used to characterise the historical and modern landscape imprint in a glacial landsystems context. This serves as a modern analogue for palaeoglaciological reconstructions of ice cap systems that operated outlet lobes of contrasting dynamics, but the subtle variability in process-form regimes is encoded in the geomorphology. The landsystems of the two piedmont lobes reflect significantly different process-form regimes, and hence contrasting historical glacier dynamics, despite the fact that they are nourished by the same ice cap. The Sandfellsjökull landsystem displays the diagnostic criteria for active temperate glacier operation, including arcuate assemblages of inset minor push moraines and associated flutings, kame terrace and ice-dammed lake deposits, linear sandar directed by overridden moraine arcs, and since 1945, features, such as ice-cored, pitted, and glacially pushed outwash fans that are linked to englacial esker networks representative of recession into an overdeepening. Moraine plan forms have also changed from weakly crenulated and discontinuous curvilinear ridges to sawtooth features and crevasse-squeeze ridges and till eskers in response to changing proglacial drainage conditions. The Oldufellsjökull landsystem displays subtle signatures of jökulhlaup-driven surges, including sparse and widely spaced moraine clusters that are separated by exceptionally long flutings. The subtlety of the surge imprint at Oldufellsjökull was recognised only by comparison with nearby Sandfellsjökull, suggesting that palaeo-surging has likely been under-estimated in the ancient landform record. Hence, the simple imprint of sparse and widely spaced moraine clusters that are separated by exceptionally long flutings should be included as possible surge-diagnostic criteria.

Monitoring of Historical Glacier Recession in Yulong Mountain by the Integration of Multisource Remote Sensing Data

Yulong Mountain, which is the southernmost snowcapped mountain in mainland Eurasia, has been confronted with significant glacier recession in the last decades due to global climate warming. The recession of these small-scale monsoonal temperate glaciers is a sensitive indicator of global warming. However, there have been few studies that have comprehensively monitored the historical glacier recession in Yulong Mountain area. This paper integrates multisource remote sensing data to monitor the glacial status on Yulong Mountain between 1957 and 2009. Integrating a topographic map, the long-term observed Landsat TM/ETM+ images, and multitemporal digital elevation model datasets, both the area change and regional mass balance of the Yulong glaciers are analyzed. According to the results, the area of the Yulong glaciers decreased from 11.57 to 4.55 km2 at a rate of −0.14 km2 yr−1 over the last 52 years between 1957 and 2009. The 1987–1999 specific mass balance was −0.31 ± 0.33 m yr−1 water equivalent, while the 1987–2008 mass balance was −0.27 ± 0.35 m yr−1 water equivalent. It can be interpreted from the results that the Yulong glaciers have experienced persistent glacier recession during the last decades. The glacier melting is still significant due to the continuously rising temperature. Furthermore, spatially heterogeneous glacier recession has been observed in this area. The glacier changes are spatially varied, which is probably due to the local temperature and precipitation, the glacier sizes, the terminus altitudes, and terrain factors. The influencing elements interacted with each other, and the climate conditions are the dominant factors affecting glacier status.

Seasonal Variability and Evolution of Glaciochemistry at An Alpine Temperate Glacier on the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Temperate glaciers are highly sensitive to climatic and environmental changes. Studying the chemical composition of snow, firn, and ice on temperate glaciers is important for understanding the variations in atmospheric circulation patterns, deposition conditions, and melting processes. To define snowpack chemistry and environmental significance, seven snowpacks (one snowpack in late autumn, two in winter, two in spring, and two in summer) were sampled in 2008/2009 on Baishui Glacier No. 1 in Mt. Yulong. Soluble ions in the winter snowpacks showed low values in the middle part but high values in the lower and upper parts, influenced by the atmospheric deposition of snow accumulation. The larger variations of ionic concentrations in the spring snowpacks were associated with the variable atmospheric patterns with high dust content in spring, leading to high ionic concentrations in the upper snowpack. Strong meltwater percolation resulted in quick migration and redistribution of ions for the profiles during the monsoon period. The ion elution sequence was Ca2+ > SO42− > NH4+ > K+ > NO3− > Na+ > Cl− > Mg2+. Factor analysis showed that NO3−, SO42−, NH4+ were mainly supplied by wet deposition-plus-anthropogenic input, while Cl− and Na+ originated from marine sources. Ca2+ and Mg2+ had multiple sources and the local terrestrial source was important because of locally exposed carbonate. The results suggest that chemical concentrations reflect mainly impurities supplied by atmospheric circulation and precipitation during periods of snow accumulation, as well as during the melting process.

Distributions and light absorption property of water soluble organic carbon in a typical temperate glacier, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) widely stored in glaciers from local and distant sources, and then released it to downstream environments under a warming climate. Climatic driven changes to glacial run-off are larger and represent an important flux of organic carbon. However, very few WSOC data are currently available to fully characterize WSOC variation in the temperate glacierized regions of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). This study first systematically evaluated the concentration characteristics and light absorbing property of WSOC, and insoluble particulate carbon (IPC) in snow and ice of a typical temperate glacier on Mt. Yulong. Average concentrations of WSOC were 0.61 ± 0.21 mg L−1 in Baishui glacier on Mt. Yulong. WSOC concentrations in surface aged snow were dramatically decreased with the time extension during the entire monsoon season due to extensive glacial melting and scavenging effects by meltwater.The MAC values of WSOC calculated at 365 nm was 6.31 ± 0.34 m2 g−1 on Mt. Yulong, and there exists distinct spectral dependence of MACwsoc within the wavelength range (260 – 700 nm). The low AAE330–400 values suggest the light absorption of WSOC is more spectrally neutral. The flux of WSOC in Baishui glacier was 0.99 gC m−2 yr−1, while the IPC flux was 4.77 gC m−2 yr−1. Total WSOC storage in the Baishui glacier was estimated to be 1.5 tone C and total IPC storage was 7.25 tone C (1 tone = 106 g). Moreover, glacial melting was reinforced by the soluble and insoluble light absorbing impurities (ILAIs) in glaciers, Baishui glacier can be considered as a fraction of carbon source under the scenario of a warming climate, more importantly, WSOC in snow and ice needs to be taken into account in calculating the radiative forcing of ILAIs and accelerating glacial melting.

Terminal zone glacial sediment transfer at a temperate overdeepened glacier system

Continuity of sediment transfer through glacial systems is essential to maintain subglacial bedrock erosion, yet transfer at temperate glaciers with overdeepened beds, where subglacial fluvial sediment transport should be greatly limited by adverse slopes, remains poorly understood. Complex multiple transfer processes in temperate overdeepened systems has been indicated by the presence of large frontal moraine systems, supraglacial debris of mixed transport origin, thick basal ice sequences, and englacial thrusts and eskers. At Svínafellsjökull, thrusts comprising decimetre-thick debris-rich bands of stratified facies ice of basal origin, with a coarser size distribution and higher clast content than that observed in basal ice layers, contribute substantially to the transfer of subglacial material in the terminal zone. Entrainment and transfer of material occurs by simple shear along the upper surface of bands and by strain-induced deformation of stratified and firnified glacier ice below. Thrust material includes rounded and well-rounded clasts that are also striated, indicating that fluvial bedload is deposited as subglacial channels approach the overdeepening and then entrained along thrusts. Substantial transfer also occurs within basal ice, with facies type and debris content dependent on the hydrological connectedness of the adverse slope. A process model of transfer at glaciers with terminal overdeepenings is proposed, in which the geometry of the overdeepening influences spatial patterns of ice deformation, hydrology, and basal ice formation. We conclude that the significance of thrusting in maintaining sediment transfer continuity has likely been overlooked by glacier sediment budgets and glacial landscape evolution studies.

Velocidades superficiales del glaciar Upsala, Andes Patagónicos Sur, mediante el uso de correlación cruzada en imágenes satelitales: periodo 2013-2014.

In this study we present surface velocities estimation for the Upsala glacier catchment, South Patagonian Ice Field (SPI) during the summer season of years 2013 (January-March) and 2014 (March-April), including the Bertacchi, Cono, and Murallón tributaries using satellite images from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER). The Cross-Correlation method was applied by COSI-Corr technique with sub-pixel accuracy. In general, it should be noted that the SPI glaciers, and Upsala glacier in particular, are fast-flowing ice bodies, which makes the technique works properly. Results of surface velocities estimation ranged from 0.22 to 2.93 md-1 for January-March 2013 and 0.12 to 5.8 md-1 for March-April 2014. In summary, COSI-Corr can achieved accurate and reliable results for glacier displacements and surface velocities estimation, also contributing in the better knowledge of the velocities change processes in time, taking into account Upsala is one of the most dynamic temperate glaciers of the SPI.

Multilocus sequence analysis of homologous recombination and diversity in Arthrobacter sensu lato named species and glacier-inhabiting strains

Members of the bacterial genus Arthrobacter sensu lato are Gram-positive actinomycetes distributed worldwide and found in numerous environments including soil, water, glacier ice, and sewage. Homologous recombination is an important driving force in bacterial evolution, but its impact on Arthrobacter sensu lato evolution is poorly understood. We evaluated homologous recombination among 41 Arthrobacter sensu lato named species, using multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). A high level of recombination was found, associated with strong diversification and a reticulate evolutionary pattern of Arthrobacter sensu lato. We also collected a total of 31 cold-adapted Arthrobacter sensu lato strains from two cold glaciers located in northwest China and two temperate glaciers in southwest China, and evaluated their diversity and population structure by MLSA. The glacier strains displayed high diversity, but rates of recombination among the four glacier groups were quite low, indicating that barriers to homologous recombination formed in the past among the populations on different glaciers. Our findings indicate that historical glaciation events shaped the contemporary distributions, taxonomic relationships, and phylogeographic patterns of Arthrobacter sensu lato species on glaciers.

Subglacial till formation: Microscale processes within the subglacial shear zone

This was a study of subglacial deformation till genesis from a modern temperate glacier, at Skálafellsjökull, Iceland. Detailed microscale properties of till samples (from Scanning Electron Microscope [SEM] and thin section analysis) were examined from a glacial site with in situ subglacial process monitoring and an exposed subglacial surface in the foreland. Two lithofacies were examined, a grey sandy till derived from the ash and basalt, and a silty reddish brown till derived from oxidized paleosols and/or tephra layers. These also represented a clay-content continuum from low (0.3%) to high (22.3%). The evolution from debris to subglacial till was investigated. This included a reduction in grain-size (21% for grey lithology, 13% reddish brown lithology), and reduction in rounding (RA) (32% for the grey lithology, 26% for the reddish brown lithology), and the quantification and analysis of the different grain erosion/comminution processes in the resultant till. It was shown that the microstructures within a till were dependent on shear strain and glaciological conditions (deformation history). The low clay content tills were dominated by linear structures (lineations and boudins, and anisotropic microfabric) whilst the higher clay content tills were dominated by rotational structures (turbates and plaster, and isotropic microfabric). These results are important in our understanding of the formation of both modern and Quaternary tills and informs our reconstruction of past glacial dynamics.

Meteorological factors driving glacial till variation and the associated periglacial debris flows in Tianmo Valley, south-eastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. Meteorological studies have indicated that high alpine environments are strongly affected by climate warming, and periglacial debris flows are frequent in deglaciated regions. The combination of rainfall and air temperature controls the initiation of periglacial debris flows, and the addition of meltwater due to higher air temperatures enhances the complexity of the triggering mechanism compared to that of storm-induced debris flows. On the south-eastern Tibetan Plateau, where temperate glaciers are widely distributed, numerous periglacial debris flows have occurred over the past 100 years, but none occurred in the Tianmo watershed until 2007. In 2007 and 2010, three large-scale debris flows occurred in the Tianmo Valley. In this study, these three debris flow events were chosen to analyse the impacts of the annual meteorological conditions, including the antecedent air temperature and meteorological triggers. The remote sensing images and field measurements of the adjacent glacier suggested that sharp glacier retreats occurred in the 1 to 2 years preceding the events, which coincided with spikes in the mean annual air temperature. Glacial till changes providing enough active sediment driven by a prolonged increase in the air temperature are a prerequisite of periglacial debris flows. Different factors can trigger periglacial debris flows, and they may include high-intensity rainfall, as in the first and third debris flows, or continuous, long-term increases in air temperature, as in the second debris flow event.

In-situ measurements of light-absorbing impurities in snow of glacier on Mt. Yulong and implications for radiative forcing estimates

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) or the third polar cryosphere borders geographical hotspots for discharges of black carbon (BC). BC and dust play important roles in climate system and Earth's energy budget, particularly after they are deposited on snow and glacial surfaces. BC and dust are two kinds of main light-absorbing impurities (LAIs) in snow and glaciers. Estimating concentrations and distribution of LAIs in snow and glacier ice in the TP is of great interest because this region is a global hotspot in geophysical research. Various snow samples, including surface aged-snow, superimposed ice and snow meltwater samples were collected from a typical temperate glacier on Mt. Yulong in the snow melt season in 2015. The samples were determined for BC, Organic Carbon (OC) concentrations using an improved thermal/optical reflectance (DRI Model 2001) method and gravimetric method for dust concentrations. Results indicated that the LAIs concentrations were highly elevation-dependent in the study area. Higher contents and probably greater deposition at relative lower elevations (generally <5000masl) of the glacier was observed. Temporal difference of LAIs contents demonstrated that LAIs in snow of glacier gradually increased as snow melting progressed. Evaluations of the relative absorption of BC and dust displayed that the impact of dust on snow albedo and radiative forcing (RF) is substantially larger than BC, particularly when dust contents are higher. This was verified by the absorption factor, which was <1.0. In addition, we found the BC-induced albedo reduction to be in the range of 2% to nearly 10% during the snow melting season, and the mean snow albedo reduction was 4.63%, hence for BC contents ranging from 281 to 894ngg-1 in snow of a typical temperate glacier on Mt. Yulong, the associated instantaneous RF will be 76.38-146.96Wm-2. Further research is needed to partition LAIs induced glacial melt, modeling researches in combination with long-term in-situ observations of LAIs in glaciers is also urgent needed in the future work.

The active-layer ice temperature increases more obviously on a cold glacier than a temperate glacier during the past 30 years

On the basis of the historical documents and measured active-layer ice temperatures (ALITs) on Baishui Glacier No. 1 (BG1), Yulong Snow Mountains, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau and Urumqi Glacier No. 1 (UG1), the eastern Tien Shan Mountains, Central Asia, this paper revealed and compared their inter-decadal response of the ALIT in the past 30 years. The results showed that the daily mean ALIT increased by 0.24°C at the range of 0.50~9.80 m on BG1 (4,670 m a.s.l.) from July 11, 1982 to July 10, 2009. The rapid increase of the ALIT is found similarly on UG1 (3,840 m a.s.l.), and its increase magnitude for the last 21 years from 1986 to 2006 is nearly 0.83° at 1~20 m depth, obviously higher than BG1 during the period 1982~2009. Empirical experiments also proved that the ALIT is higher on a temperate glacier than a cold (continental) glacier and a temperate glacier retreated faster evidently than a cold glacier, but the ALIT increases more significantly on a cold glacier than a temperate glacier with regional climatic warming.

The active-layer ice temperature increases more obviously on a cold glacier than a temperate glacier during the past 30 years

On the basis of the historical documents and measured active-layer ice temperatures (ALITs) on Baishui Glacier No. 1 (BG1), Yulong Snow Mountains, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau and Urumqi Glacier No. 1 (UG1), the eastern Tien Shan Mountains, Central Asia, this paper revealed and compared their inter-decadal response of the ALIT in the past 30 years. The results showed that the daily mean ALIT increased by 0.24°C at the range of 0.50~9.80 m on BG1 (4,670 m a.s.l.) from July 11, 1982 to July 10, 2009. The rapid increase of the ALIT is found similarly on UG1 (3,840 m a.s.l.), and its increase magnitude for the last 21 years from 1986 to 2006 is nearly 0.83° at 1~20 m depth, obviously higher than BG1 during the period 1982~2009. Empirical experiments also proved that the ALIT is higher on a temperate glacier than a cold (continental) glacier and a temperate glacier retreated faster evidently than a cold glacier, but the ALIT increases more significantly on a cold glacier than a temperate glacier with regional climatic warming.

Landform transitions from pronival ramparts to moraines and rock glaciers: a case study from the Smørbotn cirque, Romsdalsalpane, southern Norway

ABSTRACTLandform transitions are defined as intermediate forms that represent transient developmental stages between conventional landform types. This study evaluates possible cases of landform transitions from pronival (protalus) ramparts to moraine ridges, and from pronival ramparts to lobate rock glaciers (protalus lobes) at the foot of the headwall of Smørbotn cirque in southern Norway. The five landforms had been previously classified as pronival ramparts. We conclude that only two (Smørbotn 2 and 3) are undisputed, active pronival ramparts, which developed under the seasonal-freezing regime of the Holocene. It is inferred that a third (Smørbotn 1) represents the transition to a moraine ridge formed during the ‘Little Ice Age’ of the last few centuries as a semi-permanent snowbed grew into a small temperate glacier. The two others (Smørbotn 7 and 8) appear to be relict embryonic rock glaciers that developed between the Last Glacial Maximum and the Younger Dryas Stadial under a permafrost regime and benefited from enhanced debris supply as a result of rock-slope instability affected by glacier debuttressing and permafrost degradation. Variable landscape settings and distinctive environmental histories contribute to the differences in the morphology of these landforms. We highlight continuing controversies over the modes of formation and diagnostic characteristics of pronival ramparts by positioning them, together with push/dump moraines, ice-cored moraines and rock glaciers, in a conceptual model of the periglacial–glacial landform continuum. The model links snow, ice and debris fluxes under seasonal-freezing and/or permafrost climatic regimes to the process thresholds between landform types.

Remote-sensing-based analysis of the 1996 surge of Northern Inylchek Glacier, central Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan

The evolution of Northern Inylchek Glacier and its proglacial lake - Upper Lake Merzbacher - during its 1996 surge and the surrounding decades is analyzed with remote sensing imagery. Overall retreat of the glacier from 1943 to 1996 enlarged the lake to 4km long and ≈100m deep. The surge in 1996 initiated between 12 September and 7 October and advanced the glacier by 3.7km to override most of Upper Lake Merzbacher. The surge phase probably ended in December 1996 and involved mean flow velocities across the lower trunk of the glacier that reached 50md−1 over a 32-day period. Water displaced by the surge from Upper Lake Merzbacher, totalling 1.5×108m3 in volume, accelerated filling of Lower Lake Merzbacher downvalley and helped trigger this marginal ice-dammed lake to outburst in a jökulhlaup around late November/early December. The characteristics and duration of the surge render it as similar to temperate glacier surges elsewhere. It may have been facilitated by low basal friction caused by water-saturated sediments in the upper lake bed. Furthermore, bathymetric measurements show that the surge evacuated much sediment into the upper lake, causing its depth to reduce from 20 to 30m in 1996 to 8m by 2005 and 2m by 2011; the corresponding deposition rates imply glacier-catchment specific mean sediment yields of 1.4 to 3.4×103Mgkm−2a−1 in the years after the surge. Our study documents novel interactions within a cascade system of glaciers and lakes that exhibits surging and outburst-flood behavior.

Multiple subglacial till deposition: A modern exemplar for Quaternary palaeoglaciology

The sedimentology of a vertical succession of alternating beds of massive and fissile diamictons on a þorisjökull plateau icefield outlet foreland is employed to assess the evolution of subglacial traction tills at the margins of active temperate glaciers with deformable substrates, where tills appear to form sub-marginal incrementally thickened wedges that display multiple till emplacement events, potentially of annual scale. Lodged boulders display strong A-axes and surface striae alignments which parallel surface flutings, indicating that fluting construction and till emplacement were related to moulding by consistent glacier flow from the SSW during the Little Ice Age. In contrast, clast macrofabrics at the sub-boulder size, not unlike those reported from other Icelandic tills, are not as strong as would be expected in a subglacially sheared medium, indicating shear strains too low for a steady state strain signature. This separation of fabric data has isolated the strain signatures of the lodgement and deformation components of subglacial traction till, whereby the orientations of the largest, lodged clasts record high cumulative shear strains and those of the sub-boulder sized clasts record greater susceptibility to deformation of their enclosing matrix. This is likely due to the effect of clast collisions in clast rich till and the perturbations set up by the numerous large boulders, consistent with observations on till fabrics in flutings and around lodged clasts. A/B plane macrofabric data display unusually high degrees of isotropy, reflective of the more variable orientations of A/B planes, which are thought to reflect A/B plane susceptibility to dip parallel or anastomosing shear planes. A wide range of clast angularity values reflects the localized input of freshly plucked and hence relatively highly angular blocks to the deforming layer, a characteristic of stepped bedrock profiles beneath the snouts of mountain glaciers. Finally, we hypothesize that the massive and fissile units may represent A and B horizons of subglacial deforming layer couplets, and that each couplet could record seasonal emplacement and partial inter-couplet modification near the ice margin. If the latter is the case, then less than 1 m of subglacial till is advected to the glacier margin per (annual?) deformation event.

Stable oxygen isotope variability in two contrasting glacier river catchments in Greenland

Abstract. Analysis of stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) characteristics is a useful tool to investigate water provenance in glacier river systems. In order to attain knowledge on the diversity of δ18O variations in Greenlandic rivers, we examined two contrasting glacierised catchments disconnected from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). At the Mittivakkat Gletscher river, a small river draining a local temperate glacier in southeast Greenland, diurnal oscillations in δ18O occurred with a 3 h time lag to the diurnal oscillations in run-off. The mean annual δ18O was −14.68 ± 0.18 ‰ during the peak flow period. A hydrograph separation analysis revealed that the ice melt component constituted 82 ± 5 % of the total run-off and dominated the observed variations during peak flow in August 2004. The snowmelt component peaked between 10:00 and 13:00 local time, reflecting the long travel time and an inefficient distributed subglacial drainage network in the upper part of the glacier. At the Kuannersuit Glacier river on the island Qeqertarsuaq in west Greenland, the δ18O characteristics were examined after the major 1995–1998 glacier surge event. The mean annual δ18O was −19.47 ± 0.55 ‰. Despite large spatial variations in the δ18O values of glacier ice on the newly formed glacier tongue, there were no diurnal oscillations in the bulk meltwater emanating from the glacier in the post-surge years. This is likely a consequence of a tortuous subglacial drainage system consisting of linked cavities, which formed during the surge event. Overall, a comparison of the δ18O compositions from glacial river water in Greenland shows distinct differences between water draining local glaciers and ice caps (between −23.0 and −13.7 ‰) and the GrIS (between −29.9 and −23.2 ‰). This study demonstrates that water isotope analyses can be used to obtain important information on water sources and the subglacial drainage system structure that is highly desired for understanding glacier hydrology.

Recent glacier and glacial lake changes and their interactions in the Bugyai Kangri, southeast Tibet

AbstractGlaciers in the Bugyai Kangri are located in a transition zone from southeast Tibet, where monsoonal temperate glaciers dominate, to inner Tibet, where continental glaciers dominate. Here we analyze glacier and glacial lake changes in this region using multi-year inventories based on Landsat images from 1981–2013. Results show that the total area of 141 glaciers in the region decreased by 30.44 ±0.89 km2from 198.35 ±9.54 km2(1980s) to 167.93 ±4.52 km2(2010s). The annual area shrinkage rate (–0.48% a–1) is lower than that reported for southeastern Tibet but higher than that of inner Tibet. Both the number and total area of glacial lakes increased between 1981 and 2013. Among all lakes, proglacial lakes contribute most (~81 %) to the expansion. The total area of ten proglacial lakes increased by 150.3 ± 13.17% and of these ten lakes the four that expanded most sharply showed increased calving at their upper margins, resulting in more rapid retreat of lake-terminating glaciers than land-terminating glaciers. Owing to rapid calving, several lakes may undergo further growth in the near future, increasing the potential risk of glacial lake outburst floods.

Characteristics of recessional moraines at a temperate glacier in SE Iceland: Insights into patterns, rates and drivers of glacier retreat

Icelandic glaciers are sensitive to climate variability on short-term timescales owing to their North Atlantic maritime setting, and have been undergoing ice-marginal retreat since the mid-1990s. Recent patterns, rates and drivers of ice-frontal retreat at Skálafellsjökull, SE Iceland, are examined using small-scale recessional moraines as a geomorphological proxy. These small-scale recessional moraines exhibit distinctive sawtooth planform geometries, and are constructed by a range of genetic processes associated with minor ice-margin re-advance, including (i) combined push/squeeze mechanisms, (ii) bulldozing of pre-existing proglacial material, and (iii) submarginal freeze-on. Remote-sensing investigations and lichenometric dating highlight sequences of annually-formed recessional moraines on the northern and central parts of the foreland. Conversely, moraines are forming on a sub-annual timescale at the southeastern Skálafellsjökull margin. Using annual moraine spacing as a proxy for annual ice-margin retreat rates (IMRRs), we demonstrate that prominent periods of glacier retreat at Skálafellsjökull are coincident with those at other Icelandic outlet glaciers, as well as those identified at Greenlandic outlet glaciers. Analysis of IMRRs and climate data suggests summer air temperature, sea surface temperature and the North Atlantic Oscillation have an influence on IMRRs at Skálafellsjökull, with the glacier appearing to be most sensitive to summer air temperature. On the basis of further climate data analyses, we hypothesise that sea surface temperature may drive air temperature changes in the North Atlantic region, which in turn forces IMRRs. The increase in sea surface temperature over recent decades may link to atmospheric-driven variations in North Atlantic subpolar gyre dynamics.