The Cryosphere Discussions
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2010
10.5194/tcd-4-1195-2010
http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/4/1195/2010/
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http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/4/1195/2010/tcd-4-1195-2010.pdf
1195
1224
2010-07-30
Freshwater flux to Sermilik Fjord, SE Greenland
S. H. Mernild
mernild@lanl.gov
G. E. Liston
I. M. Howat
Y. Ahn
K. Steffen
B. Hasholt
B. H. Jakobsen
B. Fog
D. van As
Climate, Ocean, and Sea Ice Modeling Group, Computational Physics and Methods (CCS-2), Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, USA
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA
Byrd Polar Research Center and School of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, Ohio, USA
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Colorado, USA
Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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 2.9×10<sup>9</sup> m<sup>3</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> in 1999 to
5.9×10<sup>9</sup> m<sup>3</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> 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 ~40.4×10<sup>9</sup> m<sup>3</sup> y<sup>−1</sup>
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.
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