TY - JOUR
T1 - Ice geometry and thermal regime of Lyngmarksbræen Ice Cap, West Greenland
AU - Gillespie, Mette Kusk
AU - Yde, Jacob Clement
AU - Andresen, Marit Svarstad
AU - Citterio, Michele
AU - Gillespie, Mark Andrew Kusk
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023.
PY - 2023/12/1
Y1 - 2023/12/1
N2 - Observations remain sparse for peripheral glaciers and ice caps in Greenland. Here, we present the results of a multi-frequency radar survey of Lyngmarksbræen Ice Cap in West Greenland conducted in April 2017. Radar measurements show thick ice of up to ∼120 m in subglacial valleys associated with the largest outlet glaciers, while relatively thin ice cover the upper plateau ice divides, suggesting future vulnerability to ice cap fragmentation. At the time of the radar survey, Lyngmarksbræen Ice Cap had a total volume of 0.82 ± 0.1 km3. Measurements show a 1.5-2 m thick end-of-winter snowpack, and that firn is largely absent, signifying a prolonged period of negative mass balance for most of the ice cap. The thermal regime of Lyngmarksbræen Ice Cap is investigated through analysis of scattering observed along radar profiles. Results show that the ice cap is largely below the pressure melting point, but that temperate ice exists both in deep basal pockets and in shallow zones that some places extend from ∼15 m depth and to the ice base. The distribution of shallow temperate ice appears unrelated to variations in ice thickness; instead we find a strong correlation to the presence of nearby surface crevasses.
AB - Observations remain sparse for peripheral glaciers and ice caps in Greenland. Here, we present the results of a multi-frequency radar survey of Lyngmarksbræen Ice Cap in West Greenland conducted in April 2017. Radar measurements show thick ice of up to ∼120 m in subglacial valleys associated with the largest outlet glaciers, while relatively thin ice cover the upper plateau ice divides, suggesting future vulnerability to ice cap fragmentation. At the time of the radar survey, Lyngmarksbræen Ice Cap had a total volume of 0.82 ± 0.1 km3. Measurements show a 1.5-2 m thick end-of-winter snowpack, and that firn is largely absent, signifying a prolonged period of negative mass balance for most of the ice cap. The thermal regime of Lyngmarksbræen Ice Cap is investigated through analysis of scattering observed along radar profiles. Results show that the ice cap is largely below the pressure melting point, but that temperate ice exists both in deep basal pockets and in shallow zones that some places extend from ∼15 m depth and to the ice base. The distribution of shallow temperate ice appears unrelated to variations in ice thickness; instead we find a strong correlation to the presence of nearby surface crevasses.
KW - Glacier volume
KW - Ground-penetrating radar
KW - Ice temperature
KW - Ice thickness measurements
KW - Radio-echo sounding
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176593438&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/jog.2023.89
DO - 10.1017/jog.2023.89
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85176593438
SN - 0022-1430
VL - 69
SP - 2126
EP - 2138
JO - Journal of Glaciology
JF - Journal of Glaciology
IS - 278
ER -