Journal
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Volume 42, Issue 18, Pages 7606-7614Publisher
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL065393
Keywords
Greenland ice sheet; ice sheet hydrology; ice sheet dynamics
Categories
Funding
- Greenland Analogue Project (GAP)
- UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [NE/G005796/1, NE/G010595/1, NE/H024204/1]
- Royal Geographical Society (Gilchrist Educational Trust)
- Aberystwyth University Research Fund
- Research Council of Norway [223259]
- Aberystwyth University doctoral scholarships
- Natural Environment Research Council [NE/G005796/1, NE/G010595/1, NE/H024204/1] Funding Source: researchfish
- NERC [NE/H024204/1, NE/G010595/1, NE/G005796/1] Funding Source: UKRI
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Meltwater drainage across the surface of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is well constrained by measurements and modeling, yet despite its critical role, knowledge of its transit through the subglacial environment remains limited. Here we present a subglacial hydrological analysis of a land-terminating sector of the GrIS at unprecedented resolution that predicts the routing of surface-derived meltwater once it has entered the basal drainage system. Our analysis indicates the probable existence of small subglacial lakes that remain undetectable by methods using surface elevation change or radar techniques. Furthermore, the analysis suggests transient behavior with rapid switching of subglacial drainage between competing catchments driven by seasonal changes in the basal water pressure. Our findings provide a cautionary note that should be considered in studies that attempt to relate and infer future response from surface temperature, melt, and runoff from point measurements and/or modeling with measurements of proglacial discharge and ice dynamics.
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