Tide-modulated ice flow variations drive seismicity near the calving front of Bowdoin Glacier, Greenland
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Date
2016-03-16
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Data
Abstract
Glacier microseismicity is a promising tool to study glacier dynamics. However, physical processes connecting seismic signals and ice dynamics are not clearly understood at present. Particularly, the relationship between tide-modulated seismicity and dynamics of calving glaciers remains elusive. Here we analyze records from an on-ice seismometer placed 250 m from the calving front of Bowdoin Glacier, Greenland. Using high-frequency glacier flow speed measurements, we show that the microseismic activity is related to strain rate variations. The seismic activity correlates with longitudinal stretching measured at the glacier surface. Both higher melt rates and falling tides accelerate glacier motion and increase longitudinal stretching. Long-term microseismic monitoring could therefore provide insights on how a calving glacier's force balance and flow regime react to changes at the ice-ocean interface.
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Publication status
published
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Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
43 (5)
Pages / Article No.
2036 - 2044
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
cryoseismicity; tide; strain rate; icequake; Greenland; calving front
Organisational unit
08726 - Funk, Martin (Tit.-Prof.) (ehemalig)
09558 - Walter, Fabian (ehemalig) / Walter, F. ((former))
Notes
Funding
153179 - Dynamic changes of tidewater outlet glaciers: Bowdoin glacier, Northwest Greenland (SNF)
157551 - Glacial Hazard Monitoring with Seismology (GlaHMSeis) (SNF)
157551 - Glacial Hazard Monitoring with Seismology (GlaHMSeis) (SNF)