Initial in situ measurements of perennial meltwater storage in the Greenland firn aquifer

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Publication Type pre-print
School or College College of Social & Behavioral Science
Department Geography
Creator Forster, Richard R.
Other Author Koenig, Lora S.; Miège, Clement; Brucker, Ludovic
Title Initial in situ measurements of perennial meltwater storage in the Greenland firn aquifer
Date 2014-01-01
Description A perennial storage of water in a firn aquifer was discovered in southeast Greenland in 2011. We present the first in situ measurements of the aquifer, including densities and temperatures. Water was present at depths between ~12 and 37m and amounted to 18.7 ± 0.9 kg in the extracted core. The water filled the firn to capacity at ~35m. Measurements show the aquifer temperature remained at the melting point, representing a large heat reservoir within the firn. Using model results of liquid water extent and aquifer surface depth from radar measurements, we extend our in situ measurements to the Greenland ice sheet. The estimated water volume is 140 ± 20 Gt, representing ~0.4mm of sea level rise (SLR). It is unknown if the aquifer temporary buffers SLR or contributes to SLR through drainage and/or ice dynamics.
Type Text
Publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Volume 41
First Page 81
Last Page 85
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Koenig, L. S., Miège, C., Forster, R. R., & Brucker, L. (2014). Initial in situ measurements of perennial meltwater storage in the Greenland firn aquifer. Geophysical Research Letters, 41, 81-5.
Rights Management Author(s), Koenig, L. S., Miège, C., Forster, R. R., & Brucker, L. (2014). Initial in situ measurements of perennial meltwater storage in the Greenland firn aquifer. Geophysical Research Letters, 41, 81-5. Copyright 2014 American Geophysical Union. Reproduced/modified by permission of American Geophysical Union.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 444,103 bytes
Identifier uspace,18430
ARK ark:/87278/s6gn1h91
Setname ir_uspace
ID 711707
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6gn1h91
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