The Cryosphere

Iceberg calving during transition from grounded to floating ice: Columbia Glacier, Alaska

  1. Fabian Walter1,
  2. Shad O'Neel2,
  3. Daniel McNamara3,
  4. W. T. Pfeffer4,
  5. Jeremy N. Bassis5,
  6. Helen Amanda Fricker1

Article first published online: 7 AUG 2010

DOI: 10.1029/2010GL043201

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Walter, F., S. O'Neel, D. McNamara, W. T. Pfeffer, J. N. Bassis, and H. A. Fricker (2010), Iceberg calving during transition from grounded to floating ice: Columbia Glacier, Alaska, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L15501, doi:10.1029/2010GL043201.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

  2. 2

    U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska, USA

  3. 3

    U.S. Geological Survey, Golden, Colorado, USA

  4. 4

    Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA

  5. 5

    Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 AUG 2010
  2. Article first published online: 7 AUG 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 20 MAY 2010
  4. Manuscript Revised: 7 MAY 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 16 MAR 2010

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Keywords:

  • glacier;
  • calving;
  • seismology

[1] The terminus of Columbia Glacier, Alaska, unexpectedly became ungrounded in 2007 during its prolonged retreat. Visual observations showed that calving changed from a steady release of low-volume bergs, to episodic flow-perpendicular rifting, propagation, and release of very large icebergs - a style reminiscent of calving from ice shelves. Here, we compare passive seismic and photographic observations through this transition to examine changes in calving. Mechanical changes accompany the visible changes in calving style post flotation: generation of seismic energy during calving is substantially reduced. We propose this is partly due to changes in source processes.

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