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Underwater acoustic signatures of glacier calving
Author(s) -
Glowacki O.,
Deane G. B.,
Moskalik M.,
Blondel Ph.,
Tegowski J.,
Blaszczyk M.
Publication year - 2015
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 - 10.1002/2014gl062859
Subject(s) - subaerial , glacier , ice calving , geology , underwater , tidewater glacier cycle , sound (geography) , tidewater , oceanography , remote sensing , physical geography , geomorphology , paleontology , geography , pregnancy , lactation , biology , genetics
Abstract Climate‐driven ice‐water interactions in the contact zone between marine‐terminating glaciers and the ocean surface show a dynamic and complex nature. Tidewater glaciers lose volume through the poorly understood process of calving. A detailed description of the mechanisms controlling the course of calving is essential for the reliable estimation and prediction of mass loss from glaciers. Here we present the potential of hydroacoustic methods to investigate different modes of ice detachments. High‐frequency underwater ambient noise recordings are combined with synchronized, high‐resolution, time‐lapse photography of the Hans Glacier cliff in Hornsund Fjord, Spitsbergen, to identify three types of calving events: typical subaerial, sliding subaerial, and submarine. A quantitative analysis of the data reveals a robust correlation between ice impact energy and acoustic emission at frequencies below 200 Hz for subaerial calving. We suggest that relatively inexpensive acoustic methods can be successfully used to provide quantitative descriptions of the various calving types.