Subglacial discharge controls seasonal variations in the thermal structure of a glacial lake in Patagonia

Shin Sugiyama (), Masahiro Minowa, Yasushi Fukamachi, Shuntaro Hata, Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Tobias Sauter, Christoph Schneider and Marius Schaefer
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Shin Sugiyama: Hokkaido University
Masahiro Minowa: Hokkaido University
Yasushi Fukamachi: Hokkaido University
Shuntaro Hata: Hokkaido University
Yoshihiro Yamamoto: Hokkaido University
Tobias Sauter: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Christoph Schneider: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Marius Schaefer: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Water temperature in glacial lakes affects underwater melting and calving of glaciers terminating in lakes. Despite its importance, seasonal lake temperature variations are poorly understood because taking long-term measurements near the front of calving glaciers is challenging. To investigate the thermal structure and its seasonal variations, we performed year-around temperature and current measurement at depths of 58–392 m in Lago Grey, a 410-m-deep glacial lake in Patagonia. The measurement revealed critical impacts of subglacial discharge on the lake thermal condition. Water below a depth of ~100 m showed the coldest temperature in mid-summer, under the influence of glacial discharge, whereas temperature in the upper layer followed a seasonal variation of air temperature. The boundary of the lower and upper layers was controlled by the depth of a sill which blocks outflow of dense and cold glacial meltwater. Our data implies that subglacial discharge and bathymetry dictate mass loss and the retreat of lake-terminating glaciers. The cold lakewater hinders underwater melting and facilitates formation of a floating terminus.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26578-0

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