Ice front change of marine-terminating outlet glaciers in northwest and southeast Greenland during the 21st century

• DOI: 10.1017/jog.2018.44
• Publication Date: 2018-05-22T07:59:23Z
• Authors: CHARLIE BUNCE; J. RACHEL CARR; PETER W. NIENOW; NEIL ROSS; REBECCA KILLICK
• Keywords: Greenland ice sheet; Glacier morphology; Glacier mass balance

ABSTRACT The increasingly negative mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) over last ~25 years has been associated with enhanced surface melt and increased loss from marine-terminating outlet glaciers. Accelerated retreat during 2000–2010 was concentrated in southeast northwest sectors sheet; however, there considerable spatial temporal variability timing magnitude both within between these regions. This behaviour yet to be quantified compared for all glaciers Furthermore, it is unclear whether continued after 2010 northwest, documented slowdown post-2005 sustained. Here, we compare patterns frontal change GrIS, period 2000–2015. Our results show near-ubiquitous across regions study period; inter-annual position largely asynchronous. We also find that since 2010, terminus which contrasts southeast. Analysis role glacier-specific factors demonstrates fjord bed geometry are important controls on glacier retreat.