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Wind‐driven modulation of warm water supply to a proglacial fjord, Jorge Montt Glacier, Patagonia
Author(s) -
Moffat Carlos
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl060071
Subject(s) - fjord , glacier , oceanography , tidewater glacier cycle , geology , environmental science , climatology , geomorphology , pregnancy , lactation , ice calving , biology , genetics
Projections of sea level rise due to ice loss from the land to the ocean have been hampered by a lack of understanding of the role the ocean is playing in glacier retreat, including the processes that contribute to the supply of warm water to the ice‐ocean interface. Here shipboard, moored, and weather station data collected off Jorge Montt, a rapidly retreating glacier in Patagonia, are analyzed to understand the influence of wind forcing. During summer, synoptic‐scale down‐fjord wind events enhance an estuarine‐like two‐layer flow, increasing the inflow of oceanic deep water. During up‐fjord wind events, the inflow of deep water is significantly reduced, and a three‐layer exchange flow develops. Overall, along‐fjord wind forcing is shown to modulate the inflow of warm water to the fjord by a factor of 2.5 The results suggest that local, channelized winds can be an important process modulating warm water supply and melting of tidewater glaciers.