Subglacial discharge controls seasonal variations in the thermal structure of a glacial lake in Patagonia
Sugiyama S, Minowa M, Fukamachi Y, Hata S, Yamamoto Y, Sauter T, Schneider C, Schaefer M (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 12
Article Number: 6301
Journal Issue: 1
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26578-0
Abstract
Water temperature in glacial lakes affects underwater melting and calving of glaciers terminating in lakes. Despite its importance, seasonal lake temperature variations are poorly understood because taking long-term measurements near the front of calving glaciers is challenging. To investigate the thermal structure and its seasonal variations, we performed year-around temperature and current measurement at depths of 58–392 m in Lago Grey, a 410-m-deep glacial lake in Patagonia. The measurement revealed critical impacts of subglacial discharge on the lake thermal condition. Water below a depth of ~100 m showed the coldest temperature in mid-summer, under the influence of glacial discharge, whereas temperature in the upper layer followed a seasonal variation of air temperature. The boundary of the lower and upper layers was controlled by the depth of a sill which blocks outflow of dense and cold glacial meltwater. Our data implies that subglacial discharge and bathymetry dictate mass loss and the retreat of lake-terminating glaciers. The cold lakewater hinders underwater melting and facilitates formation of a floating terminus.
Authors with CRIS profile
Tobias Sauter
Institut für Geographie
Marius Schaefer
Professur für Geographie (Fernerkundung und GIS)
Involved external institutions
Japan (JP)
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Sugiyama, S., Minowa, M., Fukamachi, Y., Hata, S., Yamamoto, Y., Sauter, T.,... Schaefer, M. (2021). Subglacial discharge controls seasonal variations in the thermal structure of a glacial lake in Patagonia. Nature Communications, 12(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26578-0
MLA:
Sugiyama, Shin, et al. "Subglacial discharge controls seasonal variations in the thermal structure of a glacial lake in Patagonia." Nature Communications 12.1 (2021).
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