Rapid advance of two mountain glaciers in response to mine-related debris loading

Jamieson, S.S.R.; Ewertowski, M.W.; Evans, D.J.A.

Abstract

Rapid glacier advance is known to occur by a range of mechanisms. However, although large-scale debris loading has been proposed as a process for causing rapid terminus advance, it has rarely been observed. We use satellite remote-sensing data to observe accelerated glacier terminus advance in response to massive supraglacial loading on two glaciers in Kyrgyzstan. Over a 15 year period, mining activity has led to the dumping of spoil of up to 180 m thick on large parts of these valley glaciers. We find that the termini of these glaciers advance by 1.2 and 3.2 km respectively at a rate of up to 350 m yr−1. Our analysis suggests that although enhanced basal sliding could be an important process, massive supraglacial loads have also caused enhanced internal ice deformation that would account for most, or all, of the glacier terminus advance. In addition, narrowing of the glacier valley and mining and dumping of ice alter the mass balance and flow regime of the glaciers. Although the scale of supraglacial loading is massive, this full-scale experiment provides insight into glacier flow acceleration response where small valley glaciers are impacted by very large volumes of landslide debris.

Citation

Jamieson, S., Ewertowski, M., & Evans, D. (2015). Rapid advance of two mountain glaciers in response to mine-related debris loading. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 120(7), 1418-1435. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015jf003504

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 25, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Jul 20, 2015
• Publication Date: Jul 27, 2015
• Deposit Date: Feb 27, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 27, 2015
• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface
• Print ISSN: 2169-9011
• Electronic ISSN: 2169-9011
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 120
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1418-1435
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/2015jf003504
• Keywords: Glacier advance, Debris-covered glacier, Supraglacial debris, Human impact, Mining, Ice deformation.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1444969