Tidally driven ice speed variation at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, observed with terrestrial radar interferometry

Denis Voytenko; Alon Stern; David M. Holland; Timothy H. Dixon; Knut Christianson; Ryan T. Walker

doi:10.3189/2015JoG14J173

Tidally driven ice speed variation at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, observed with terrestrial radar interferometry

Denis Voytenko, Alon Stern, David M. Holland, Timothy H. Dixon, Knut Christianson, Ryan T. Walker

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We used a terrestrial radar interferometer (TRI) at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, in August 2013, to study the effects of tidal forcing on the terminal zone of this tidewater glacier. During our study period, the glacier velocity was up to 25md^-1. Our measurements show that the glacier moves out of phase with the semi-diurnal tides and the densely packed melange in the fjord. Here detrended glacier displacement lags behind the forecasted tidal height by ∼8 hours. The transition in phase lag between the glacier and the melange happens within a narrow (∼500m)zone in the fjord in front of the ice cliff. The TRI data also suggest that the impact of tidal forcing decreases rapidly up-glacier of the terminus. A flowline model suggests this pattern of velocity perturbation is consistent with weak ice flowing over a weakly nonlinear bed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	301-308
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Glaciology
Volume	61
Issue number	226
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG14J173
State	Published - May 1 2015

Keywords

Glacier flow
Glaciological instruments and methods
Ice dynamics
Ice/ocean interactions
Remote sensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Earth-Surface Processes

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10.3189/2015JoG14J173

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title = "Tidally driven ice speed variation at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, observed with terrestrial radar interferometry",

abstract = "We used a terrestrial radar interferometer (TRI) at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, in August 2013, to study the effects of tidal forcing on the terminal zone of this tidewater glacier. During our study period, the glacier velocity was up to 25md-1. Our measurements show that the glacier moves out of phase with the semi-diurnal tides and the densely packed melange in the fjord. Here detrended glacier displacement lags behind the forecasted tidal height by ∼8 hours. The transition in phase lag between the glacier and the melange happens within a narrow (∼500m)zone in the fjord in front of the ice cliff. The TRI data also suggest that the impact of tidal forcing decreases rapidly up-glacier of the terminus. A flowline model suggests this pattern of velocity perturbation is consistent with weak ice flowing over a weakly nonlinear bed.",

keywords = "Glacier flow, Glaciological instruments and methods, Ice dynamics, Ice/ocean interactions, Remote sensing",

author = "Denis Voytenko and Alon Stern and Holland, {David M.} and Dixon, {Timothy H.} and Knut Christianson and Walker, {Ryan T.}",

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language = "English (US)",

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T1 - Tidally driven ice speed variation at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, observed with terrestrial radar interferometry

AU - Voytenko, Denis

AU - Stern, Alon

AU - Holland, David M.

AU - Dixon, Timothy H.

AU - Christianson, Knut

AU - Walker, Ryan T.

PY - 2015/5/1

Y1 - 2015/5/1

N2 - We used a terrestrial radar interferometer (TRI) at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, in August 2013, to study the effects of tidal forcing on the terminal zone of this tidewater glacier. During our study period, the glacier velocity was up to 25md-1. Our measurements show that the glacier moves out of phase with the semi-diurnal tides and the densely packed melange in the fjord. Here detrended glacier displacement lags behind the forecasted tidal height by ∼8 hours. The transition in phase lag between the glacier and the melange happens within a narrow (∼500m)zone in the fjord in front of the ice cliff. The TRI data also suggest that the impact of tidal forcing decreases rapidly up-glacier of the terminus. A flowline model suggests this pattern of velocity perturbation is consistent with weak ice flowing over a weakly nonlinear bed.

AB - We used a terrestrial radar interferometer (TRI) at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, in August 2013, to study the effects of tidal forcing on the terminal zone of this tidewater glacier. During our study period, the glacier velocity was up to 25md-1. Our measurements show that the glacier moves out of phase with the semi-diurnal tides and the densely packed melange in the fjord. Here detrended glacier displacement lags behind the forecasted tidal height by ∼8 hours. The transition in phase lag between the glacier and the melange happens within a narrow (∼500m)zone in the fjord in front of the ice cliff. The TRI data also suggest that the impact of tidal forcing decreases rapidly up-glacier of the terminus. A flowline model suggests this pattern of velocity perturbation is consistent with weak ice flowing over a weakly nonlinear bed.

KW - Glacier flow

KW - Glaciological instruments and methods

KW - Ice dynamics

KW - Ice/ocean interactions

KW - Remote sensing

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JO - Journal of Glaciology

JF - Journal of Glaciology

IS - 226

ER -

Tidally driven ice speed variation at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, observed with terrestrial radar interferometry

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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