Investigating meltwater flow beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet using a multi-tracer approach
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Geographical Sciences
Abstract
The Greenland Ice Sheet is the main reservoir of ice in the northern hemisphere capable of affecting sea level in the 21st Century. Measurements of the elevation of the ice sheet surface from aircraft now provide a much better picture of the whether the ice sheet is graining or losing mass. However, until there is a better understanding of how ice flows from the ice sheet interior to the ocean, models that aim to predict the response of the Greenland Ice Sheet to climate change and the impact on sea level are unlikely to produce accurate estimates. One of the least poorly understood aspects of ice flow is how meltwater lubrication at the ice sheet sole might affect the rate of ice discharge to the ocean. Recent research has shown that the input of surface meltwater to the ice sheet bed in summer causes considerable ice speed up. Exactly how meltwater flows at the bed (does it flow in discrete channels or does it spread out and flow in a more diffuse manner?) is crucial to understanding how the ice sheet might respond to increased melt inputs in a warming climate. Currently, little is known about basal meltwater routing because the vast amounts of meltwater prevent the use of traditional tracing techniques (e.g. dye tracing). This project aims to apply novel tracing methods which will survive large scale dilution, and which can be injected to holes (moulins) on the glacier surface and detected when the water emerges at the ice sheet front. Some of these techniques have been using widely in oceanography to trace currents across ocean basins. Our tracer experiments will provide new information regarding characteristics of meltwater flow paths and their temporal/spatial variations at the bed of the ice sheet and provide detailed measurements (e.g. pressure) of along-flow path characteristics. Comparison of our tracer results (e.g. water flow speeds, pressure conditions in channels) with ice velocity data from the same glacier will help identify linkages between meltwater routing and ice flow mechanisms, and will generate a unique dataset for future numerical modelling studies aimed at quantifying the future contribution of the Greenland Ice Sheet to global sea level rise.level rise.
Publications
Bagshaw E
(2021)
Measuring pH in low ionic strength glacial meltwaters using ion selective field effect transistor (ISFET) technology
in Limnology and Oceanography: Methods
Bagshaw E
(2017)
Novel wireless sensors for in situ measurement of sub-ice hydrologic systems
in Annals of Glaciology
Bagshaw E
(2016)
Processes controlling carbon cycling in Antarctic glacier surface ecosystems
in Geochemical Perspectives Letters
Bagshaw E
(2012)
E-tracers: Development of a low cost wireless technique for exploring sub-surface hydrological systems
in Hydrological Processes
BAGSHAW E
(2018)
Prototype wireless sensors for monitoring subsurface processes in snow and firn
in Journal of Glaciology
Bartholomew I
(2011)
Seasonal variations in Greenland Ice Sheet motion: Inland extent and behaviour at higher elevations
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Bartholomew I
(2011)
Supraglacial forcing of subglacial drainage in the ablation zone of the Greenland ice sheet GREENLAND SUBGLACIAL HYDROLOGY
in Geophysical Research Letters
Beaton AD
(2017)
High-Resolution in Situ Measurement of Nitrate in Runoff from the Greenland Ice Sheet.
in Environmental science & technology
Bhatia M
(2013)
Organic carbon export from the Greenland ice sheet
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Cameron KA
(2017)
Meltwater export of prokaryotic cells from the Greenland ice sheet.
in Environmental microbiology
Chandler D
(2015)
Seasonal changes of ice surface characteristics and productivity in the ablation zone of the Greenland Ice Sheet
in The Cryosphere
Chandler D
(2021)
Rapid development and persistence of efficient subglacial drainage under 900 m-thick ice in Greenland
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Chandler D
(2013)
Evolution of the subglacial drainage system beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet revealed by tracers
in Nature Geoscience
Chen T
(2016)
Ocean mixing and ice-sheet control of seawater 234U/238U during the last deglaciation.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Cowton T
(2013)
Evolution of drainage system morphology at a land-terminating Greenlandic outlet glacier
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface
Dubnick A
(2017)
Hydrological controls on glacially exported microbial assemblages
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
Hatton J
(2019)
Investigation of subglacial weathering under the Greenland Ice Sheet using silicon isotopes
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Hatton JE
(2019)
Silicon isotopes in Arctic and sub-Arctic glacial meltwaters: the role of subglacial weathering in the silicon cycle.
in Proceedings. Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Hawkings J
(2021)
Author Correction: Large subglacial source of mercury from the southwestern margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet
in Nature Geoscience
Hawkings J
(2016)
The Greenland Ice Sheet as a hot spot of phosphorus weathering and export in the Arctic
in Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Hawkings J
(2015)
The effect of warming climate on nutrient and solute export from the Greenland Ice Sheet
in Geochemical Perspectives Letters
Hawkings J
(2018)
Biolabile ferrous iron bearing nanoparticles in glacial sediments
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Hawkings JR
(2018)
The silicon cycle impacted by past ice sheets.
in Nature communications
Hawkings JR
(2017)
Ice sheets as a missing source of silica to the polar oceans.
in Nature communications
Hodgkins R
(2013)
Drainage-system development in consecutive melt seasons at a polythermal, Arctic glacier, evaluated by flow-recession analysis and linear-reservoir simulation.
in Water resources research
| Description | Large efficient channels convey meltwater beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet |
| Exploitation Route | Use for constraining numerical models of ice flow |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | - findings have advanced understanding of water flow beneath ice sheets -development of low cost electronic tracers for tracing water flow in ice sheets has had wide interest as a technique and is now being adapted for use in UK waterways (see impact accelerator funding) |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Cryoegg: a novel wireless instrument for exploring deep ice |
| Amount | £232,387 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R03530X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2018 |
| End | 10/2021 |
| Description | NERC-CONICYT joint funding scheme |
| Amount | £733,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PII20150106 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2016 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Sub-ice sheet weathering: a missing link in the global silicon cycle? |
| Amount | £262,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RPG-2016-439 |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2017 |
| End | 05/2021 |
| Description | UKIERI: Bio-climatic feedbacks of melting Himalayan Ice |
| Amount | £198,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Title | Proglacial discharge measurements, Leverett Glacier, south-west Greenland (2009-2012) |
| Description | Measurements of water discharge, suspended sediment concentration and electrical conductivity during the melt seasons of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 in the proglacial river draining from the tongue of Leverett Glacier, a land-terminating glacier in the south-west of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The measurements were made in a stable bedrock section approximately 2 km downstream from the glacier terminus. Data loggers recorded measurements every 15 minutes from approximately May to August each year. Water depth (stage) was converted to discharge (Q) using season-specific ratings curves derived from repeat dye-dilution injections undertaken across the stage values. Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) was obtained by calibrating turbidity sensor readings with sediment samples taken in-situ and then filtered, dried and weighed. Electrical conductivity (EC) was recorded using a water conductivity probe; the data were filtered for bad values and corrected for temperature, but no smoothing was applied. These version 2 files are presented as CSV lists, with some summary metadata included as comments at the start of each file; they essentially contain the same data as the previous version files. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Description | Collaboration in Greenland |
| Organisation | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Advice on methods and method develop for hydrology work in Greenland |
| Collaborator Contribution | collaborative discussions, one paper published |
| Impact | Bhatia, M. S. Das, M. Charette, J.L. Wadham, E.B. Kujawinski. 2013. Organic carbon export from the Greenland Ice Sheet, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, doi: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.gca.2013.02.006 |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Collaboration with the East Greenland Ice Core Project (EGRIP) |
| Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
| Department | Niels Bohr Institute |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Liz Bagshaw (former PDRA on two technology-led NERC grants led from Bristol) participated in the EGRIP field season, and developed and deployed Etracers and Cryo-Eggs for monitoring processes in firn. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This collaboration would not have been possible without significant in kind backing from the EGRIP team. |
| Impact | Further plans are being developed. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Technology Development |
| Organisation | Biotrack |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Development and adaptation of animal tracking equipment for glacier hydrology research |
| Collaborator Contribution | collaboration |
| Impact | Various publications - see publications |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Blogs on fieldwork in Greenland (Jon Hawkings, PhD student) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | excellent feedback stimulation of discussion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://cabot-institute.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/unprecedented-melting-of-greenland-ice.html |
| Description | Invitation to two workshops on "Exploration of Subglacial Lake CECS, Antarctica", Valdivia, Chile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Wadham was invited to and led discussion of plans to explore Antarctic Subglacial Lake CECs at two international workshops in the Centro Estudio Scientificos, in Valdivia (Chile). This was a UK-Chilean group of scientists and engineers who plan to enter and sample this lake. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Invited research seminar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Wadham invited to give a research seminar at WHOI, based upon her work on Greenland biogeochemistry and sensor development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Keynote International Glaciological Society Annual Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Keynote presentation given by Wadham, sparked interest and ideas from researchers in aligner fields |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Keynote at European Geophysical Union Meeting (Vienna) by Wadham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Wadham was invited to give a keynote presentation about her sensor development work via several NERC funded projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Partnership with the BBC on documentary on BBC4 on "Dangerous Earth: Icebergs" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Wadham was a lead scientist on this BBC4 documentary, which communicated the impacts of icebergs on the rest of the planet. She participated in filming and appeared in the final product in December 2016. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Public Engagement with book launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Publication of Ice Rivers by Jemma Wadham (Penguin Press) - for a wide audience. News articles in New Scientist, The Conversation, Financial Times, Vogue Magazine, national newspapers, and podcasts/talks by Radio 4, World Economic Forum, World Bank, The Guardian, NHK Japan, ABC news Australia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Research Seminars - National University of Singapore, Imperial College London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Follow up correspondence and requests for further info have been made. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Science presentations at 7 international schools in Hong Kong and China |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Email follow up has happened. Further information has been requested. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
| Description | Talks at schools (Schools STEM outreach day, 5th July, Bristol Oasis Marksbury Rd, 30th January by Liz Bagshaw) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Liz Bagshaw, former PDRA on two sensor-focussed research grants, gave talks at local schools in Bristol and Cardiff. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | UoB Bristol Glaciology Centre outreach at Room 13 Hareclive (Bristol Ice Explorers) - Jon Hawkings (PhD student), Professor Martyn Tranter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | sparked lots of discussion An art competition for the local school children was launched, focussed on glacial environments |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.room13hareclive.org.uk/news |
| Description | Video documentary work in Greenland (Alex Ingle, MSc student, University of Edinburgh) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | good feedback stimulated discussion |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012 |
| URL | http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/glaciology/hydrology_dynamics/photo_video.html |