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www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/4/1195/2010/
doi:10.5194/tcd-4-1195-2010
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under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Freshwater flux to Sermilik Fjord, SE Greenland
1Climate, Ocean, and Sea Ice Modeling Group, Computational Physics and Methods (CCS-2), Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA
2Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA
3Byrd Polar Research Center and School of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, Ohio, USA
4Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Colorado, USA
5Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
6Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Abstract. Fluctuations in terrestrial surface freshwater flux to Sermilik Fjord, SE Greenland, were simulated and analyzed. SnowModel, a state-of-the-art snow-evolution, snow and ice melt, and runoff modeling system, was used to simulate the temporal and spatial terrestrial runoff distribution to the fjord based on observed meteorological data (1999–2008) from stations located on and around the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). Simulated runoff was compared and verified against independent glacier catchment runoff observations (1999–2005). Modeled runoff to Sermilik Fjord was highly variable, ranging from 2.9×109 m3 y−1 in 1999 to 5.9×109 m3 y−1 in 2005. The uneven spatial runoff distribution produced an areally-averaged annual maximum runoff at the Helheim glacier terminus of more than 3.8 m w.eq. The sub-catchment runoff of the Helheim glacier region accounted for 25% of the total runoff to Sermilik Fjord. The runoff distribution from the different sub-catchments suggested a strong influence from the spatial variation in glacier coverage. To assess the Sermilik Fjord freshwater flux, simulated terrestrial runoff and net precipitation (precipitation minus evaporation and sublimation) for the fjord area were combined with satellite-derived ice discharge and subglacial geothermal and frictional melting due to basal ice motion. A terrestrial freshwater flux of ~40.4×109 m3 y−1 was found for Sermilik Fjord, with an 11% contribution originated from surface runoff. For the Helheim glacier sub-catchment only 4% of the flux originated from terrestrial surface runoff.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 5131 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 6 Comments) Final Revised Paper (TC)
Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., Howat, I. M., Ahn, Y., Steffen, K., Hasholt, B., Jakobsen, B. H., Fog, B., and van As, D.: Freshwater flux to Sermilik Fjord, SE Greenland, The Cryosphere Discuss., 4, 1195-1224, doi:10.5194/tcd-4-1195-2010, 2010. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
