Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-184
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-184
20 Mar 2024
 | 20 Mar 2024

Characterizing Southeast Greenland fjord surface ice and freshwater flux to support biological applications

Twila A. Moon, Benjamin Cohen, Taryn E. Black, Kristin L. Laidre, Harry Stern, and Ian Joughin

Abstract. Southeast Greenland (SEG) is characterized by complex morphology and environmental processes that create dynamic habitats for resident marine top predators. Active glaciers producing solid ice discharge, freshwater flux, offshore sea ice transport, and seasonal landfast ice formation all contribute to a variable, transient environment within SEG fjord systems. Here, we investigate a selection of physical processes in SEG to provide a regional characterization to reveal physical system processes and support biological research. SEG fjords exhibit high fjord-to-fjord variability regarding bathymetry, size, shape, and glacial setting, influencing some processes more than others. For example, the timing of offshore sea ice formation in fall near SEG fjords progresses temporally southward across latitudes while the timing of offshore sea ice disappearance is less dependent on latitude. Rates of annual freshwater flux into fjords, in contrast, are highly variable across SEG, with annual average input values ranging from ~1x108 m3 to ~1.25x1010 m3 (~0.1–12.5 Gt) for individual fjords. Similarly, rates of solid ice discharge in SEG fjords vary widely – in part due to the irregular distribution of active glaciers across the study area (60° N–70° N). Landfast sea ice, assessed for 8 focus fjords, is seasonal and has a spatial distribution highly dependent on individual fjord topography. Conversely, glacial ice is deposited into fjord systems year-round, with the spatial distribution of glacier-derived ice dependent on glacier termini location. As climate change continues to affect SEG, the evolution of these metrics will be individually variable in their response, and next steps should include moving from characterization to system projection. Due to projected regional ice sheet persistence that will continue to feed glacial ice into fjords, it is possible that SEG could remain a long-term (century to millennia scale) refugia location for polar bears and other ice-dependent species, demonstrating a need for continued research on the SEG physical environment.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

29 Oct 2024
Characterizing southeast Greenland fjord surface ice and freshwater flux to support biological applications
Twila A. Moon, Benjamin Cohen, Taryn E. Black, Kristin L. Laidre, Harry L. Stern, and Ian Joughin
The Cryosphere, 18, 4845–4872, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4845-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4845-2024, 2024
Short summary
Twila A. Moon, Benjamin Cohen, Taryn E. Black, Kristin L. Laidre, Harry Stern, and Ian Joughin

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-184', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Mar 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Twila Moon, 03 Jun 2024
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-184', Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson, 05 Apr 2024
    • AC3: 'Reply on CC1', Twila Moon, 03 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-184', Anonymous Referee #2, 07 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Twila Moon, 03 Jun 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-184', Anonymous Referee #1, 21 Mar 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Twila Moon, 03 Jun 2024
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-184', Nanna Bjørnholt Karlsson, 05 Apr 2024
    • AC3: 'Reply on CC1', Twila Moon, 03 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-184', Anonymous Referee #2, 07 Apr 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Twila Moon, 03 Jun 2024

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) (18 Jun 2024) by Bert Wouters
AR by Twila Moon on behalf of the Authors (27 Jun 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (08 Jul 2024) by Bert Wouters
AR by Twila Moon on behalf of the Authors (18 Jul 2024)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

29 Oct 2024
Characterizing southeast Greenland fjord surface ice and freshwater flux to support biological applications
Twila A. Moon, Benjamin Cohen, Taryn E. Black, Kristin L. Laidre, Harry L. Stern, and Ian Joughin
The Cryosphere, 18, 4845–4872, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4845-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4845-2024, 2024
Short summary
Twila A. Moon, Benjamin Cohen, Taryn E. Black, Kristin L. Laidre, Harry Stern, and Ian Joughin
Twila A. Moon, Benjamin Cohen, Taryn E. Black, Kristin L. Laidre, Harry Stern, and Ian Joughin

Viewed

Total article views: 499 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
364 102 33 499 15 13
  • HTML: 364
  • PDF: 102
  • XML: 33
  • Total: 499
  • BibTeX: 15
  • EndNote: 13
Views and downloads (calculated since 20 Mar 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 20 Mar 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 538 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 538 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 29 Oct 2024
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
The complex geomorphology of Southeast Greenland (SEG) creates dynamic fjord habitats for marine top predators, with glacier-derived floating ice, pack and landfast sea ice, and freshwater flux. We investigate the SEG fjord physical environment, with focus on surface ice conditions, to provide a regional characterization to support biological research. As Arctic warming continues, SEG may serve as a long-term refugia for ice-dependent wildlife due to projected regional ice sheet persistence.