Rapid basal melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet from surface meltwater drainage

Tun Jan Young, Poul Christoffersen*, Marion Bougamont, Slawek M Tulaczyk, Bryn Hubbard, Kenneth D Mankoff, Keith W Nicholls, Craig L Stewart

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Subglacial hydrologic systems regulate ice sheet flow, causing acceleration or deceleration, depending on hydraulic efficiency and the rate at which surface meltwater is delivered to the bed. Because these systems are rarely observed, ice sheet basal drainage represents a poorly integrated and uncertain component of models used to predict sea level changes. Here, we report radar-derived basal melt rates and unexpectedly warm subglacial conditions beneath a large Greenlandic outlet glacier. The basal melt rates averaged 14 mm ⋅d-1 over 4 months, peaking at 57 mm ⋅d-1 when basal water temperature reached +0.88C in a nearby borehole. We attribute both observations to the conversion of potential energy of surface water to heat in the basal drainage system, which peaked during a period of rainfall and intense surface melting. Our findings reveal limitations in the theory of channel formation, and we show that viscous dissipation far surpasses other basal heat sources, even in a distributed, high-pressure system.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2116036119
Number of pages8
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume119
Issue number10
Early online date22 Feb 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Mar 2022

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Radio echo sounding
  • Greenland
  • Glaciology
  • Ice sheets

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