Stream hydrology controls on ice cliff evolution  and survival on debris-covered glaciers

Petersen, Eric; Hock, Regine; Loso, Michael G.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-727-2024

Articles | Volume 12, issue 3

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-727-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-727-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 12, issue 3

Research article

|

13 May 2024

Research article |

| 13 May 2024

Stream hydrology controls on ice cliff evolution and survival on debris-covered glaciers

Eric Petersen, Regine Hock, and Michael G. Loso

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-727-2024-supplement

Data sets

Data Products associated with "Stream hydrology controls on ice cliff evolution, and survival on debris-covered glaciers" Eric Petersen et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8373145

Video supplement

Supplementary Video 1 Eric Petersen https://youtu.be/qJdaZrITLXc

Supplementary Video 2 Eric Petersen https://youtu.be/8iUe5hMW_Ko

Supplementary Video 3 Eric Petersen https://youtu.be/fzFH3vJuHE8

Short summary

Ice cliffs are melt hot spots that increase melt rates on debris-covered glaciers which otherwise see a reduction in melt rates. In this study, we show how surface runoff streams contribute to the generation, evolution, and survival of ice cliffs by carving into the glacier and transporting rocky debris. On Kennicott Glacier, Alaska, 33 % of ice cliffs are actively influenced by streams, while nearly half are within 10 m of streams.