Are the Sermilik Fjord glaciers terminus-controlled, runoff-controlled,
or runoff-adapting? Decomposition of glacier speed maps at Helheim,
Fenris, Midgard, and Pourquoi-Pas Glaciers, 2006-2019
Abstract
Are the Sermilik Fjord glaciers terminus-controlled, runoff-controlled,
or runoff-adapting? Decomposition of glacier speed maps at Helheim,
Fenris, Midgard, and Pourquoi-Pas Glaciers Previous research has
identified three common seasonal patterns (“types”) of ice flow at
Greenland glaciers (Moon et al., 2014; Vijay et al., 2019). Some
glaciers have a consistent type, while others change from year to year.
Neighboring glaciers may have the same or different type. Previously,
types were identified by examining flow at a single point. This
limitation may affect the inferred variability. We use principal
component (PC) / empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis to
decompose maps of ice speed (Joughin et al., 2018; Joughin, 2021; Howat,
2020; Scambos et al., 206; Rosenau et al., 2015; Solgaard & Kusk, 2021)
at four glaciers feeding Sermilik Fjord over 2014-2021. This improves on
the previous single-point method by yielding temporal patterns (PCs),
which allow types to be identified, plus their associated spatial
patterns (EOFs). Helheim Glacier shows the most spatial and temporal
heterogeneity of the four glaciers. PC #1 (95% of the variance in
2014-2021 speed) suggests primarily terminus control (p=0.003) but also
some runoff control (p=0.05). PC #2 (1% of the variance in 2014-2021
speed) shows only runoff control (p=0.006). Previous work found that
Helheim can be either terminus- or runoff-controlled. Fenris Glacier is
runoff-adapting (PC #1, 66% of the variance in 2014-2021 speed). This
disagrees with previous work that classified it as terminus-controlled.
On Midgard Glacier, PC #1 (79% of the variance in 2014-2021 speed) is
consistent with runoff-adapting behavior (p<0.0001). EOF #2
shows that the lowest 4 km is more runoff-controlled
(p<0.00001) or terminus-controlled (p=0.04) than the upstream
area. Our conclusion agrees with previous work that classified Midgard
as runoff-adapting. Since separating from Midgard in 2009, Pourquoi Pas
Glacier has slowed near the terminus while accelerating upstream. EOF
#1 shows this pattern (67% of the variance in 2014-2021 speed); its PC
shows runoff control. Previous work classified Pourquoi Pas as
terminus-controlled. Overall, these results agree moderately with
previous, simpler analyses. Thus, application of EOF/PC analysis to the
popular “glacier type” problem holds some promise in the quest to
discover what controls the seasonal flow patterns of Greenland glaciers.