Supraglacial lake

A supraglazialer lake is a body of water on the glacier surface. It is formed in depressions of the ice surface by the accumulation of melt water.

Generally

Supraglaziale lakes occur almost everywhere in the world except in the polar regions, Antarctica in particular, as the air temperatures near the surface are continuous in the strong negative and therefore do not permit liquid water. The lakes form is usually below the equilibrium line ( engl. Equilibrium Line Altitude, ELA), as snow or firn absorb the melt water.

Research focus

The research projects focus on regions such as Svalbard or Greenland. Examines the effect of deflating the lake on the ice conditions. The idea is that flowing water which has reached the bottom of the glacier, the ice gives a hydraulic lift. This results in an acceleration of the ice conditions, which in turn may increase the glacier calving. Especially when it comes to Süßwassereis, this means an increase in the sea level. Special attention is paid to the rapidly emptied supraglacial lakes that almost completely empty itself in no time. Das et al (2008 ) observed in 2006, a 5.6 km ² lake that disappeared within 1.4 h.

Bibliography

• Pfiffner, A. et al (2012 ): Earth Science, np, main. ISBN 978-3-8252-3632-8.
• Selmes, N. et. al. (2013 ): Fast Draining lakes in the Greenland Ice Sheet, in: Geophysical Research Letters, vol 38, L15501: 1-5.

• Lake
• Glaciology