A Major Collapse of Kangerlussuaq Glacier's Ice Tongue Between 1932 and 1933 in East Greenland. Issue 4 (13th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vermassen, Flor; Bjørk, Anders A.; Sicre, Marie‐Alexandrine; Jaeger, John M.; Wangner, David J.; Kjeldsen, Kristian K.; Siggaard‐Andersen, Marie‐Louise; Klein, Vincent; Mouginot, Jeremie; Kjær, Kurt H.; Andresen, Camilla S.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 47:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-02-13
• Subjects: Kangerlussuaq Glacier -- Glacier retreat -- alkenones -- IRD -- historical documents; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2019GL085954
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years, several large outlet glaciers in Greenland lost their floating ice tongue, yet little is known regarding their stability over a longer timescale. Here we compile historical documents to demonstrate a major ice tongue collapse of Kangerlussuaq Glacier between 1932 and 1933. This event resulted in a 9‐km retreat, exceeding any of the glacier's recent major retreat events. Sediment cores from the fjord are used to reconstruct sea surface temperatures and to investigate a potential sedimentological trace of the collapse. During the 1920s, local and regional sea surface temperatures and air temperatures increased rapidly, suggesting a climatic trigger for the collapse. Fjord bathymetry played an important role too, as the (partially) pinned ice tongue retreated off a submarine moraine during the event. This historical analogue of a glacier tongue collapse emphasizes the fragility of remaining ice tongues in North Greenland within a warming climate. Plain Language Summary: In the past two decades, multiple Greenlandic glaciers retreated because their floating part (="ice tongue") melted and broke off. While it is believed that such events are the result of a warming climate, not much is known about how often or when such events have occurred in the past. In this study, we compiled multiple historical sources to show that Kangerlussuaq Glacier, one of Greenland's largest glaciers, retreated drastically between 1932 and 1933. During this event the ice tongue collapsed, leading to a 9‐km retreat, which is more than during any of the glacier's recent retreat events. By studying fjord sediments we show that the ocean temperatures increased prior to the event, as did air temperatures. Thus, climatic warming likely triggered the collapse. While other glaciers had already started their retreat decades earlier, Kangerlussuaq Glacier had been stable until 1932, probably due to stabilizing effect of an underwater moraine. Overall, this study emphasizes that ice tongues are sensitive to climatic warming and highlights the precarious position of current ice tongues in Northern Greenland. Key Points: Historical evidence reveals a major collapse of Kangerlussuaq Glacier's ice tongue between 1932 and 1933 The collapse was likely triggered by increasing air and ocean temperatures during the late 1920s/early 1930s Compared to other glaciers in Greenland this retreat event occurred relatively late, probably due to its pinning to a large submarine moraine