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Dynamics of active subglacial lakes in Recovery Ice Stream
C F Dow1,2, M A Werder3, G Babonis4
1Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Earth Surface
|July 1, 2020
Summary
Active subglacial lakes in Recovery Ice Stream grow and drain, influencing ice flow. Regional hydrology, not local conditions, drives these dynamics and ice stream velocity.
Area of Science:
- Glaciology
- Hydrology
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Recovery Ice Stream hosts numerous active subglacial lakes that exhibit multi-year growth and drainage cycles.
- These subglacial water bodies are hypothesized to play a crucial role in regulating ice stream velocity through water storage and release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the growth and drainage dynamics of subglacial lakes.
- To investigate the interplay between subglacial lake behavior and the evolution of the ice stream's hydrological network.
Main Methods:
- Application of a subglacial hydrology model.
- Validation of model outputs against satellite altimetry data for lake locations.
Main Results:
- Modeled lake locations show good agreement with satellite observations.
- The model reveals pressure waves initiating at the ice stream neck, influencing hydraulic potential and lake activity.
- Lake drainage events contribute to the formation of persistent R-channels.
Conclusions:
- Subglacial hydrology in Recovery Ice Stream is governed by large-scale regional drainage development (hundreds of kilometers).
- Local conditions (tens of kilometers) have a lesser impact on the overall subglacial system.
- The dynamic nature of pressure waves and lake cycles indicates a complex, evolving subglacial environment.
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