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Titel |
Changes in the marine-terminating glaciers of central east Greenland, 2000–2010 |
VerfasserIn |
K. M. Walsh, I. M. Howat, Y. Ahn, E. M. Enderlin |
Medientyp |
Artikel
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Sprache |
Englisch
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ISSN |
1994-0416
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Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: The Cryosphere ; 6, no. 1 ; Nr. 6, no. 1 (2012-02-17), S.211-220 |
Datensatznummer |
250003386
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Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/tc-6-211-2012.pdf |
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Zusammenfassung |
Marine-terminating outlet glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet have undergone
substantial changes over the past decade. The synchronicity of these changes
suggest a regional external forcing, such as changes in coastal ocean heat
transport and/or increased surface melt and subglacial runoff. A distinct
contrast in rates of ice front retreat has been observed between glaciers
north and south of 69° N latitude on along the East Greenland coast. This
latitude corresponds with the northward limit of subtropical waters carried
by the Irminger Current, suggesting variability in ocean heat transport as
the dominant forcing. Glacier surging, however, is yet another mechanism of
change in this region. In order to provide further spatial and temporal
constraint on glacier change across this important oceanographic transition
zone, we construct time series of thinning, retreat and flow speed of 37
marine-terminating glaciers along the central east Greenland coast from 2000
to 2010. We assess this dataset for spatial and temporal patterns that may
elucidate the mechanisms of glacier change. We confirm that glacial retreat,
dynamical thinning, and acceleration have been more pronounced south of
69° N, with a high degree of variability along the Blosseville Coast and
little inter-annual change in Scoresby Sound. Our results support the
conclusion that variability in coastal ocean heat transport is the primary
driver of regional glacier change, but that local factors, such as surging
and/or individual glacier morphology, are overprinted on this regional
signal. |
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