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We present ice velocities from a land-terminating transect extending >115km into the western Greenland Ice Sheet during three contrasting melt years (2009-2011) to determine whether enhanced melting accelerates dynamic mass loss. We find no significant correlation between surface melt and annual ice flow. There is however a positive correlation between melt and summer ice displacement, but a negative correlation with winter displacement. This response is consistent with hydro-dynamic coupling; enhanced summer ice flow results from longer periods of increasing surface melting and greater duration ice surface to bed connections, while reduced winter motion is explicable by drainage of high basal water pressure regions by larger more extensive subglacial channels. Despite mean interannual surface melt variability of up to 70%, mean annual ice velocities changed by <7.5%. Increased summer melting thereby preconditions the ice-bed interface for reduced winter motion resulting in limited dynamic sensitivity to interannual variations in surface melting.
Author(s): Sole A, Nienow P, Bartholomew I, Mair D, Cowton T, Tedstone A, King MA
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
Year: 2013
Volume: 40
Issue: 15
Pages: 3940-3944
Print publication date: 06/08/2013
ISSN (print): 0094-8276
ISSN (electronic): 1944-8007
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/grl.50764
DOI: 10.1002/grl.50764
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