Publication Abstracts

Mankoff et al. 2016

Mankoff, K.D., F. Straneo, C. Cenedese, S.B. Das, C.G. Richards, and H. Singh, 2016: Structure and dynamics of a subglacial discharge plume in a Greenlandic fjord. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 121, no. 12, 8670-8688, doi:10.1002/2016JC011764.

Discharge of surface-derived meltwater at the submerged base of Greenland's marine-terminating glaciers creates subglacial discharge plumes that rise along the glacier/ocean interface. These plumes impact submarine melting, calving, and fjord circulation. Observations of plume properties and dynamics are challenging due to their proximity to the calving edge of glaciers. Therefore, to date information on these plumes has been largely derived from models. Here we present temperature, salinity, and velocity data collected in a plume that surfaced at the edge of Saqqarliup Sermia, a midsized Greenlandic glacier. The plume is associated with a narrow core of rising waters approximately 20 m in diameter at the ice edge that spreads to a 200 m by 300 m plume pool as it reaches the surface, before descending to its equilibrium depth. Volume flux estimates indicate that the plume is primarily driven by subglacial discharge and that this has been diluted in a ratio of 1:10 by the time the plume reaches the surface. While highly uncertain, meltwater fluxes are likely 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the subglacial discharge flux. The overall plume characteristics agree with those predicted by theoretical plume models for a convection-driven plume with limited influence from submarine melting.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ma09610n,
  author={Mankoff, K. D. and Straneo, F. and Cenedese, C. and Das, S. B. and Richards, C. G. and Singh, H.},
  title={Structure and dynamics of a subglacial discharge plume in a Greenlandic fjord},
  year={2016},
  journal={J. Geophys. Res. Oceans},
  volume={121},
  number={12},
  pages={8670--8688},
  doi={10.1002/2016JC011764},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ma09610n
AU  - Mankoff, K. D.
AU  - Straneo, F.
AU  - Cenedese, C.
AU  - Das, S. B.
AU  - Richards, C. G.
AU  - Singh, H.
PY  - 2016
TI  - Structure and dynamics of a subglacial discharge plume in a Greenlandic fjord
JA  - J. Geophys. Res. Oceans
VL  - 121
IS  - 12
SP  - 8670
EP  - 8688
DO  - 10.1002/2016JC011764
ER  -

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