The role of glacier dynamics on rapid retreat of calving glaciers

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23403006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 海外学術
• Research Field: Meteorology/Physical oceanography/Hydrology
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: SUGIYAMA SHIN 北海道大学, 低温科学研究所, 准教授 (20421951)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SAWAGAKI Takanobu 北海道大学, 地球環境科学研究院, 助教 (70312410) ; NAITO Nozomu 広島工業大学, 環境学部, 教授 (90368762) ; FURUYA Masato 北海道大学, 理学部, 教授 (60313045) ; ENOMOTO Hiroyuki 国立極地研究所, 国際北極環境研究センター, 教授 (00213562)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: カービング氷河 / パタゴニア / 南極半島 / 氷河湖 / 氷河流動 / 熱水掘削 / 気候変動 / 地球変動予測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We carried out satellite and field measurements to study the role of glacier dynamics in rapid retreat of calving glaciers. Glacier front positions and ice speed over the entire area of Southern Patagonia Icefield were quantified from 1984 to 2011. Details of the data revealed the fundamental role of glacier dynamics in the significantly large retreat observed in several glaciers. Lake measurements confirmed the influence of bed geometry on glacier stability, and unique lake temperature structures in front of calving glaciers. We also performed hot water drilling on glaciers on Livingston Island in Antarctic Peninsula. Subglacial and englacial measurements provided us clues to understand the mechanism of short-term ice speed variations. These results demonstrated that the glacier dynamics is a key driver of the recent rapid retreat of calving glaciers, and also suggested potentially important role of ice-lake interactions in the glacier change.

Free Research Field

雪氷学