What question did this study set out to answer?

To observe and characterize the pathway and dynamic ice-sheet response as surface meltwater penetrates thick, cold ice to reach the bed of the Greenland Ice Sheet.

April 18, 2008ScienceOpen Access

Fracture Propagation to the Base of the Greenland Ice Sheet During Supraglacial Lake Drainage

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To observe and characterize the pathway and dynamic ice-sheet response as surface meltwater penetrates thick, cold ice to reach the bed of the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Monitored the rapid drainage of a large supraglacial lake penetrating 980 meters through the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Recorded concurrent seismic activity, ice-sheet uplift, horizontal displacement, and flow velocity changes during and after drainage.
The lake drained completely to the bed in less than 2 hours through water-driven fracture propagation that evolved into moulin flow.
Drainage coincided with increased seismicity, transient ice acceleration, surface uplift, and horizontal displacement, followed by subsidence and deceleration over the subsequent 24 hours.
The rapid return to baseline indicates an efficient subglacial drainage network dispersed the meltwater, suggesting cumulative drainages drive observed regional summer ice speedup.

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Implication

Observational study reveals rapid hydrofracture drainage of a supraglacial lake to the ice sheet bed, suggesting that episodic lake drainage drives regional summer ice acceleration.

Cite This Study

Das et al. (2008) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69d768d1aa68b335b4f315f2 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1153360

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Implication

Observational study reveals rapid hydrofracture drainage of a supraglacial lake to the ice sheet bed, suggesting that episodic lake drainage drives regional summer ice acceleration.

Fracture Propagation to the Base of the Greenland Ice Sheet During Supraglacial Lake Drainage

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Fracture Propagation to the Base of the Greenland Ice Sheet During Supraglacial Lake Drainage

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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