Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-805
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-805
31 Aug 2022
 | 31 Aug 2022

The control of short-term ice mélange weakening episodes on calving activity at major Greenland outlet glaciers

Adrien Wehrlé, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli

Abstract. The dense mixture of iceberg of various sizes and sea ice observed in many of Greenland's fjords, called ice mélange (sikussak in Greenlandic), has been shown to have a significant impact on the dynamics of several Greenland tidewater glaciers mainly through the seasonal support it provides to the glacier terminus in winter. However, a clear understanding of shorter-term ice mélange dynamics is still lacking, mainly due to the high complexity and variability of the processes at play at the ice-ocean boundary. In this study, we use a combination of Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 optical satellite imagery to investigate in detail intraseasonal ice mélange dynamics and its link to calving activity at three major outlet glaciers: Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier, Helheim Glacier and Sermeq Kujalleq in Kangia (Jakobshavn Isbræ). In those fjords, we identified recurrent ice mélange weakening (IMW) episodes consisting in the up-fjord propagation of a discontinuity between jam-packed and weaker ice mélange towards the glacier terminus. At a late stage, i.e. when the IMW front approaches the glacier terminus, these episodes were often correlated with the occurrence of large-scale calving events. The IMW process is particularly well visible at the front of Kangerdlugssuaq glacier and presents a cyclic behavior, such that we further analyzed IMW dynamics during the June–November period from 2018 to 2021 at this location. Throughout this period, we detected 30 IMW episodes with a recurrence time of 24 days, propagating over a median distance of 5.9 km and for 17 days, resulting in a median propagation speed of 400 m/d. We found that 87 % of the IMW episodes occurred prior to a calving event visible in spaceborne observations and that ~75 % of all detected calving events were preceded by an IMW episode. These results therefore present the IMW process as a clear control on the calving activity of Kangerdlugssuaq glacier. Finally, using a simple numerical model for ice mélange motion, we showed that a slightly biased random motion of ice floes without fluctuating external forcing can reproduce IMW events and their cyclic influence, and explain observed propagation speeds. These results further support our observations in characterizing the IMW process as self-sustained through the existence of an IMW-calving feedback. This study therefore highlights the importance of short-term ice mélange dynamics in the longer-term evolution of Greenland outlet glaciers.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Jan 2023
The control of short-term ice mélange weakening episodes on calving activity at major Greenland outlet glaciers
Adrien Wehrlé, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 17, 309–326, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023, 2023
Short summary

Adrien Wehrlé et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-805', Suzanne Bevan, 14 Sep 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-805', Surui Xie, 18 Oct 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-805', Suzanne Bevan, 14 Sep 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-805', Surui Xie, 18 Oct 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (13 Dec 2022) by Christian Haas
AR by Adrien Wehrlé on behalf of the Authors (13 Dec 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (30 Dec 2022) by Christian Haas
AR by Adrien Wehrlé on behalf of the Authors (02 Jan 2023)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Jan 2023
The control of short-term ice mélange weakening episodes on calving activity at major Greenland outlet glaciers
Adrien Wehrlé, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 17, 309–326, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023, 2023
Short summary

Adrien Wehrlé et al.

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Short summary
We characterized short-lived episodes of ice mélange weakening (IMW) at the front of three major Greenland outlet glaciers. Through a continuous detection at the front of Kangerdlugssuaq glacier during the June-to-September period from 2018 to 2021, we found that 87 % of the IMW episodes occurred prior to a large-scale calving event. Using a simple model for ice mélange motion, we further characterized the IMW process as self-sustained through the existence of an IMW-calving feedback.