Effects of subglacial geothermal activity observed by satellite radar interferometry

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

4

Geodesy And Gravity: Space Geodetic Surveys, Volcanology: Hydrothermal Systems, Hydrology: Glaciology

Scientific paper

We use one day Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferograms from data of the Earth Remote Sensing Satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2 to study ice flow and uplift of two surface depressions within the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland. The ice cauldrons are created by melting at subglacial geothermal areas. Meltwater accumulates in a reservoir under the cauldrons over 2 to 3 years until it drains in a jökulhlaup under the ice dam surrounding the reservoir. The ice surface in the depressions drops down by several tens of meters during these draining events but rises again, as ice flows into the depressions, until a jökulhlaup occurs again. Using SAR interferograms we quantify an uplift rate of about 2 to 18 cm/day within the jökulhlaup cycle varying with the surface slope of the depressions. The uplift rate is high during the first months after a jökulhlaup when the cauldron is relatively deep with steep slopes, but the uplift rate decreases as the cauldron is gradually filled. A simple axisymmetric model simulating the ice-flow into one of the depressions describes quantitatively the filling rate of the cauldron and qualitatively the shape of the ice flow field. The best-fit model has an ice flow law parameter A0 that is about one order of magnitude lower than typically estimated for temperate glaciers.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Effects of subglacial geothermal activity observed by satellite radar interferometry does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Effects of subglacial geothermal activity observed by satellite radar interferometry, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Effects of subglacial geothermal activity observed by satellite radar interferometry will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1603989

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.