Perito Moreno Glacier dam rupture - A recurrent natural experiment to probe solid-earth elasticity

Marderwald ER, Aragón Paz JM, Richter AJ, Busch P, Malz P, Mendoza LPO, Romero A, Guerrero L, Hormaechea JL, Connon G, Perdomo RA, Braun M, Groh A, Horwath M, Scheinert M, Dietrich R (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Journal of South American Earth Sciences Elsevier

Book Volume: 104

Article Number: 102904

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102904

Abstract

The Southern Patagonian Icefield is located in an area with a complex tectonic-rheological structure and is affected by intense glacial-isostatic adjustment and rapid ice retreat. Geodetic observations of loading effects provide information on earth structure. Perito Moreno Glacier repeatedly dams the Brazo Rico and Brazo Sur branches of Lago Argentino. The rupture of the ice dam applies an intense hydrological load signal which results in an elastic response of the solid earth. We present a modelling procedure to predict loading effects in response to water-level changes in Brazo Rico. The output is compared with site displacements observed by GNSS during the 2016 rupture event. Our results show that water-level changes in Brazo Rico exceeding 5 m produce vertical deformations detectable with GNSS observations. A geodetic observation of loading effects at magnitudes similar to those of the maximum historic event in 1956 could provide meaningful constraints on elastic earth models. We discuss consequences for the determination of accurate deformation rates, implications for our understanding of the intense uplift observed at the Southern Patagonian Icefield, and requirements and prospects for obtaining geodetic observations of the loading effects of future rupture events.

Authors with CRIS profile

Philipp Malz Professur für Geographie (Fernerkundung und GIS) Matthias Braun Professur für Geographie (Fernerkundung und GIS)

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Dresden DE Germany (DE) National University of La Plata / Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) AR Argentina (AR) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) / National Scientific and Technical Research Council AR Argentina (AR)

How to cite

APA:

Marderwald, E.R., Aragón Paz, J.M., Richter, A.J., Busch, P., Malz, P., Mendoza, L.P.O.,... Dietrich, R. (2020). Perito Moreno Glacier dam rupture - A recurrent natural experiment to probe solid-earth elasticity. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 104. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102904

MLA:

Marderwald, Eric Rodolfo, et al. "Perito Moreno Glacier dam rupture - A recurrent natural experiment to probe solid-earth elasticity." Journal of South American Earth Sciences 104 (2020).

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