Projects per year
Abstract
Subglacial topography exerts strong controls on glacier dynamics,
influencing the orientation and velocity of ice flow, as well as
modulating the distribution of basal waters and sediment. Bed geometry
can also provide a long-term record of geomorphic processes, allowing
insight into landscape evolution, the origin of which may predate ice
sheet inception. Here we present evidence from ice-penetrating radar
data for a large dendritic drainage network, radiating inland from
Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland's largest outlet glacier. The size of the
drainage basin is ∼450,000 km2 and accounts for about 20% of
the total land area of Greenland. Topographic and basin morphometric
analyses of an isostatically uplifted (ice-free) bedrock topography
suggests that this catchment predates ice sheet initiation and has
likely been instrumental in controlling the location and form of the
Jakobshavn ice stream, and ice flow from the deep interior to the
margin, now and over several glacial cycles.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 6350-6357 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 12 |
Early online date | 21 Jun 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 28 Jun 2016 |
Keywords
- Greenland ice sheet
- Geomorphology
- Glacial erosion
- Fluvial erosion
- Paleofluvial origin
- Landscape inheritance
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Paleofluvial landscape inheritance for Jakobshavn Isbræ catchment, Greenland'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Basal Properties of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Bamber, J. L. (Principal Investigator)
19/10/14 → 18/12/17
Project: Research
Profiles
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Professor Jonathan L Bamber
- School of Geographical Sciences - Professor
- Cabot Institute for the Environment
- Bristol Glaciology Centre
Person: Academic , Member, Group lead
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Professor Katerina Michaelides
- School of Geographical Sciences - Professor of Dryland Hydrology
- Cabot Institute for the Environment
- Hydrology
Person: Academic , Member