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Flotation-event at the snout of Rhonegletscher
In September 2021 part of the glacier tongue of Rhonegletscher that was remaining subaquatic in the proglacial lake suddenly floated. Such rare events are not well understood and buoyancy consideration of the uplifted ice mass could give more insights.
With ongoing climate change, proglacial lakes may form in overdeepenings of retreating glaciers. A few observations of similar calving events of for ice masses that were below the water surface already exist for glacier in the Alps. However, larger ice masses of the glacier tongue that form subaquatic are in conflict with the buoyant forces that lead immediately to calving.
Existing data on the subglacial topography together with observation of the event at Rhonegletscher allow to investigate the volume of the ice mass that was floated. In addition, changes of the surface topography result from the comparison of digital elevation models and can be used to locate the area of the glacier affected by the uplift. Reconstruction of the geometrical setting eventually helps to make conclusions on the ice mechanical conditions present at lake terminating glacier tongues.
With ongoing climate change, proglacial lakes may form in overdeepenings of retreating glaciers. A few observations of similar calving events of for ice masses that were below the water surface already exist for glacier in the Alps. However, larger ice masses of the glacier tongue that form subaquatic are in conflict with the buoyant forces that lead immediately to calving. Existing data on the subglacial topography together with observation of the event at Rhonegletscher allow to investigate the volume of the ice mass that was floated. In addition, changes of the surface topography result from the comparison of digital elevation models and can be used to locate the area of the glacier affected by the uplift. Reconstruction of the geometrical setting eventually helps to make conclusions on the ice mechanical conditions present at lake terminating glacier tongues.
The goal of this thesis is to investigate the geometry of Rhonegletscher’s tongue prior and after the calving event, and to gain insights on the mechanisms involved in the process. Digital elevation models (DEMs) of the surface topography will be extracted from repeated drone-surveys before and after the event. A wealth of ice thickness measurements using ground penetrating radar have been collected over the past decades, and will be used for a comprehensive evaluation of the basal topography including the proglacial lake area. As a final step, the geometrical setting will be extracted to assess the ice mechanical conditions of the event.
The goal of this thesis is to investigate the geometry of Rhonegletscher’s tongue prior and after the calving event, and to gain insights on the mechanisms involved in the process. Digital elevation models (DEMs) of the surface topography will be extracted from repeated drone-surveys before and after the event. A wealth of ice thickness measurements using ground penetrating radar have been collected over the past decades, and will be used for a comprehensive evaluation of the basal topography including the proglacial lake area. As a final step, the geometrical setting will be extracted to assess the ice mechanical conditions of the event.
For further information please contact: Andreas Bauder (bauder@vaw.baug.ethz.ch) or Daniel Farinotti (daniel.farinotti@ethz.ch)
For further information please contact: Andreas Bauder (bauder@vaw.baug.ethz.ch) or Daniel Farinotti (daniel.farinotti@ethz.ch)