Impact of tides on calving patterns at Kronebreen, Svalbard – insights from three-dimensional ice dynamical modelling

Understanding calving processes and their controls is of importance for reducing uncertainty in sea level rise estimates. The impact of tidal fluctuations and frontal melt on calving patterns has been researched through both modelling and observational studies but remains uncertain and may vary from...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The cryosphere 2023-05, Vol.17 (5), p.1853-1872
Main Authors:	Holmes, Felicity A, van Dongen, Eef, Noormets, Riko, PÄtlicki, Michal, Kirchner, Nina
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Ablation Analysis Critical point Dynamic models Fluctuations geografi med naturgeografisk inriktning Geography, Physical Geography Geometry Glacier fluctuations Glaciers Hydrology Ice calving Modelling Morphology Observational studies Parameterization Sea level Sea level changes Sea level rise Three dimensional models
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Understanding calving processes and their controls is of importance for reducing uncertainty in sea level rise estimates. The impact of tidal fluctuations and frontal melt on calving patterns has been researched through both modelling and observational studies but remains uncertain and may vary from glacier to glacier. In this study, we isolate various different impacts of tidal fluctuations on a glacier terminus to understand their influence on the timing of calving events in a model of Kronebreen, Svalbard, for the duration of 1 month. In addition, we impose a simplified frontal melt parameterisation onto the calving front in order to allow for an undercut to develop over the course of the simulations. We find that calving events show a tidal signal when there is a small or no undercut, but, after a critical point, undercut-driven calving becomes dominant and drowns out the tidal signal. However, the relationship is complex, and large calving events show a tidal signal even with a large modelled undercut. The modelled undercut sizes are then compared to observational profiles, showing that undercuts of up to ca. 25 m are plausible but with a more complex geometry being evident in observations than that captured in the model. These findings highlight the complex interactions occurring at the calving front of Kronebreen and suggest further observational data and modelling work is needed to fully understand the hierarchy of controls on calving.
ISSN:	1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424