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Rapid iceberg calving following removal of tightly packed pro-glacial mélange

Author

Listed:
  • Surui Xie

    (University of South Florida)

  • Timothy H. Dixon

    (University of South Florida)

  • David M. Holland

    (New York University
    New York University Abu Dhabi)

  • Denis Voytenko

    (University of South Florida)

  • Irena Vaňková

    (New York University
    New York University Abu Dhabi
    British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council)

Abstract

Iceberg calving is a major contributor to Greenland’s ice mass loss. Pro-glacial mélange (a mixture of sea ice, icebergs, and snow) may be tightly packed in the long, narrow fjords that front many marine-terminating glaciers and can reduce calving by buttressing. However, data limitations have hampered a quantitative understanding. We develop a new radar-based approach to estimate time-varying elevations near the mélange-glacier interface, generating a factor of three or more improvement in elevation precision. We apply the technique to Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland’s major outlet glacier. Over a one-month period in early summer 2016, the glacier experienced essentially no calving, and was buttressed by an unusually thick mélange wedge that increased in thickness towards the glacier front. The extent and thickness of the wedge gradually decreased, with large-scale calving starting once the mélange mass within 7 km of the glacier front had decreased by >40%.

Suggested Citation

  • Surui Xie & Timothy H. Dixon & David M. Holland & Denis Voytenko & Irena Vaňková, 2019. "Rapid iceberg calving following removal of tightly packed pro-glacial mélange," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-10908-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10908-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Henning Åkesson & Mathieu Morlighem & Johan Nilsson & Christian Stranne & Martin Jakobsson, 2022. "Petermann ice shelf may not recover after a future breakup," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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