Borehole-Based Characterization of Deep Mixed-Mode Crevasses at a Greenlandic Outlet Glacier

Optical televiewer borehole logging within a crevassed region of fast-moving Store Glacier, Greenland, revealed the presence of 35 high-angle planes that cut across the background primary stratification. These planes were composed of a bubble-free layer of refrozen ice, most of which hosted thin laminae of bubble-rich last frozen ice, consistent with the planes being the traces of former open crevasses. Several such last-frozen laminae were observed in four traces, suggesting multiple episodes of crevasse reactivation. The frequency of crevasse traces generally decreased with depth, with the deepest detectable trace being 265 m below the surface. This is consistent with the extent of the warmer-than-modeled englacial ice layer in the area, which extends from the surface to a depth of similar to 400 m. Crevasse trace orientation was strongly clustered around a dip of 63 degrees and a strike that was offset by 71 degrees from orthogonal to the local direction of principal extending strain. The traces' antecedent crevasses were therefore interpreted to have originated upglacier, probably similar to 8 km distant involving mixed-mode (I and III) formation. We conclude that deep crevassing is pervasive across Store Glacier, and therefore also at all dynamically similar outlet glaciers. Once healed, their traces represent planes of weakness subject to reactivation during subsequent advection through the glacier. Given their depth, it is highly likely that such traces-particularly those formed downglacier-survive surface ablation to reach the glacier terminus, where they may represent foci for fracture and iceberg calving.

Automated summary

The optical televiewer borehole logging in a crevassed region of Store Glacier, Greenland, revealed high-angle planes of refrozen ice layers that are likely traces of former open crevasses. These crevasse traces decrease in frequency with depth and show a consistent orientation with a dip of 63 degrees and a strike offset by 71 degrees. These traces represent planes of weakness that may have originated upglacier and are likely to survive surface ablation to reach the glacier terminus.