Subglacial source of meltwater discharge in an emerging ice-marginal channel, Bering Glacier, Alaska
- State Univ. of New York, Oneonta, NY (United States). Dept. of Earth Sciences
The retreating eastern margin of Bering Piedmont Glacier terminates in two ice-contact lakes separated by an island that has been uncovered in the last decade. A semi-continuous aerial photo record (1978--1991) and field observations (1992) confirms a newly-developed ice-marginal channel linking these two lakes that is fed by a persistent subglacial conduit system. This investigation documents channel characteristic, discharge, turbidity, water temperature and the location of the present ice margin. Bathymetry along the channel reveals a highly irregular profile consisting of low-gradient reaches 3--5 m deep interrupted by shallow sills (< 1 m) of grounded, subaqueous ice and a 40 m basin among ice islands. Channel dimensions measured in 5 cross section reveal abrupt, small-scale changes typical of sub-bottom ice. Discharge varies from 72.24 cms near a node of upwelling to 40.38 cms 2 km down stream, then back up to 42.25 cms within 0.4 km, where the channel enters a lake. Turbidity values between 1.67 g/l and 4.20 g/l, of 10 water samples vary irregularly along the channel and with depth at-a-station. Early July water temperatures from 7 widely-spaced locations indicate the thermocline occurs at depths from 1 to 3 m and separates surface water at +1.1 C from supercooled water at [minus]1.0 C. Clusters of in situ platy frazil ice crystals several centimeters in diameter were observed on floating ice in the area of upwelling supercooled water. The presence of upwelling, highly-turbid, supercooled water indicates that the primary meltwater source is a subglacial conduit network at the ice margin, from which flow separates and discharges through a leaky channel into both lakes.
- OSTI ID:
- 5814320
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9303211--
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Vol. 25:2; ISSN GAAPBC; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540350* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
AERIAL MONITORING
ALASKA
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGY
GEOMORPHOLOGY
GLACIERS
HYDROLOGY
LAKES
MELTING
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SURFACE WATERS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TURBIDITY
USA
WATER CHEMISTRY