TY - JOUR
T1 - Freshwater flux to Sermilik Fjord, SE Greenland
AU - Mernild, S.H.
AU - Howat, I.M.
AU - Ahn, Y.
AU - Liston, G.E.
AU - Steffen, K.
AU - Jakobsen, B.H.
AU - Hasholt, B.
AU - Fog, B.
AU - van As, D.
PY - 2010/10/26
Y1 - 2010/10/26
N2 - Terrestrial inputs of freshwater flux to Sermilik Fjord, SE Greenland,
were estimated, indicating ice discharge to be the dominant source of
freshwater. A freshwater flux of 40.4 ± 4.9×109 m3 y−1
was found (1999–2008), with an 85% contribution originated from ice
discharge (65% alone from Helheim Glacier), 11% from terrestrial surface
runoff (from melt water and rain), 3% from precipitation at the fjord
surface area, and 1% from subglacial geothermal and frictional melting
due to basal ice motion. The results demonstrate the dominance of ice
discharge as a primary mechanism for delivering freshwater to Sermilik
Fjord. Time series of ice discharge for Helheim Glacier, Midgård
Glacier, and Fenris Glacier were calculated from satellite-derived
average surface velocity, glacier width, and estimated ice thickness,
and fluctuations in terrestrial surface freshwater runoff were simulated
based on observed meteorological data. These simulations were compared
and bias corrected against independent glacier catchment runoff
observations. Modeled runoff to Sermilik Fjord was variable, ranging
from 2.9 ± 0.4×109 m3 y−1 in 1999 to 5.9 ± 0.9×109 m3 y−1
in 2005. The sub-catchment runoff of the Helheim Glacier region
accounted for 25% of the total runoff to Sermilik Fjord. The runoff
distribution from the different sub-catchments suggested a strong
influence from the spatial variation in glacier coverage, indicating
high runoff volumes, where glacier cover was present at low elevations.
AB - Terrestrial inputs of freshwater flux to Sermilik Fjord, SE Greenland,
were estimated, indicating ice discharge to be the dominant source of
freshwater. A freshwater flux of 40.4 ± 4.9×109 m3 y−1
was found (1999–2008), with an 85% contribution originated from ice
discharge (65% alone from Helheim Glacier), 11% from terrestrial surface
runoff (from melt water and rain), 3% from precipitation at the fjord
surface area, and 1% from subglacial geothermal and frictional melting
due to basal ice motion. The results demonstrate the dominance of ice
discharge as a primary mechanism for delivering freshwater to Sermilik
Fjord. Time series of ice discharge for Helheim Glacier, Midgård
Glacier, and Fenris Glacier were calculated from satellite-derived
average surface velocity, glacier width, and estimated ice thickness,
and fluctuations in terrestrial surface freshwater runoff were simulated
based on observed meteorological data. These simulations were compared
and bias corrected against independent glacier catchment runoff
observations. Modeled runoff to Sermilik Fjord was variable, ranging
from 2.9 ± 0.4×109 m3 y−1 in 1999 to 5.9 ± 0.9×109 m3 y−1
in 2005. The sub-catchment runoff of the Helheim Glacier region
accounted for 25% of the total runoff to Sermilik Fjord. The runoff
distribution from the different sub-catchments suggested a strong
influence from the spatial variation in glacier coverage, indicating
high runoff volumes, where glacier cover was present at low elevations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78049308574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5194/tc-4-453-2010
DO - 10.5194/tc-4-453-2010
M3 - Article
VL - 4
SP - 453
EP - 465
JO - Cryosphere
JF - Cryosphere
SN - 1994-0416
IS - 4
ER -