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Distribution and dynamics of Greenland subglacial lakes

Author

Listed:
  • J. S. Bowling

    (Lancaster University
    University of Sheffield)

  • S. J. Livingstone

    (University of Sheffield)

  • A. J. Sole

    (University of Sheffield)

  • W. Chu

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Few subglacial lakes have been identified beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) despite extensive documentation in Antarctica, where periodic release of water can impact ice flow. Here we present an ice-sheet-wide survey of Greenland subglacial lakes, identifying 54 candidates from airborne radio-echo sounding, and 2 lakes from ice-surface elevation changes. These range from 0.2–5.9 km in length, and are mostly distributed away from ice divides, beneath relatively slow-moving ice. Based on our results and previous observations, we suggest three zones of formation: stable lakes in northern and eastern regions above the Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) but away from the interior; hydrologically-active lakes near the ELA recharged by surface meltwater and; small, seasonally-active lakes below the ELA, which form over winter and drain during the melt season. These observations provide important constraints on the GrIS's basal thermal regime and help refine our understanding of the subglacial hydrological system.

Suggested Citation

  • J. S. Bowling & S. J. Livingstone & A. J. Sole & W. Chu, 2019. "Distribution and dynamics of Greenland subglacial lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-10821-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10821-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Lujendra Ojha & Bryce Troncone & Jacob Buffo & Baptiste Journaux & George McDonald, 2022. "Liquid water on cold exo-Earths via basal melting of ice sheets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Thomas Slater & Andrew Shepherd & Malcolm McMillan & Amber Leeson & Lin Gilbert & Alan Muir & Peter Kuipers Munneke & Brice Noël & Xavier Fettweis & Michiel Broeke & Kate Briggs, 2021. "Increased variability in Greenland Ice Sheet runoff from satellite observations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.

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