Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords
Abstract Fjord circulation modulates the connection between marine‐terminating glaciers and the ocean currents offshore. These fjords exhibit both overturning and horizontal recirculations, which are driven by water mass transformation at the head of the fjord via subglacial discharge plumes and dis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095706 |
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| author | Ken X. Zhao Andrew L. Stewart James C. McWilliams |
| author_facet | Ken X. Zhao Andrew L. Stewart James C. McWilliams |
| author_sort | Ken X. Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fjord circulation modulates the connection between marine‐terminating glaciers and the ocean currents offshore. These fjords exhibit both overturning and horizontal recirculations, which are driven by water mass transformation at the head of the fjord via subglacial discharge plumes and distributed meltwater plumes. However, little is known about how various fjord characteristics influence the interaction between 3D fjord circulation and glacial melt. In this study, high‐resolution numerical simulations of idealized glacial fjords demonstrate that recirculation strength controls melt, which feeds back on overturning and recirculation. The relationships between overturning, recirculation, and melt rate are well predicted by vorticity balance, reduced‐order melt parameterizations, and empirical scaling arguments. These theories allow us to take into account the near‐glacier horizontal velocities, which yield improved predictions of fjord overturning, recirculation, and glacial melt. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1f8d504cf14a4f6992e4385acf900afd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-1f8d504cf14a4f6992e4385acf900afd2025-08-20T02:11:38ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072022-08-014915n/an/a10.1029/2021GL095706Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial FjordsKen X. Zhao0Andrew L. Stewart1James C. McWilliams2Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USAAbstract Fjord circulation modulates the connection between marine‐terminating glaciers and the ocean currents offshore. These fjords exhibit both overturning and horizontal recirculations, which are driven by water mass transformation at the head of the fjord via subglacial discharge plumes and distributed meltwater plumes. However, little is known about how various fjord characteristics influence the interaction between 3D fjord circulation and glacial melt. In this study, high‐resolution numerical simulations of idealized glacial fjords demonstrate that recirculation strength controls melt, which feeds back on overturning and recirculation. The relationships between overturning, recirculation, and melt rate are well predicted by vorticity balance, reduced‐order melt parameterizations, and empirical scaling arguments. These theories allow us to take into account the near‐glacier horizontal velocities, which yield improved predictions of fjord overturning, recirculation, and glacial melt.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095706fjord circulationglacial meltoverturningrecirculationidealized numerical modeling |
| spellingShingle | Ken X. Zhao Andrew L. Stewart James C. McWilliams Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords Geophysical Research Letters fjord circulation glacial melt overturning recirculation idealized numerical modeling |
| title | Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords |
| title_full | Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords |
| title_fullStr | Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords |
| title_full_unstemmed | Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords |
| title_short | Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords |
| title_sort | linking overturning recirculation and melt in glacial fjords |
| topic | fjord circulation glacial melt overturning recirculation idealized numerical modeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095706 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kenxzhao linkingoverturningrecirculationandmeltinglacialfjords AT andrewlstewart linkingoverturningrecirculationandmeltinglacialfjords AT jamescmcwilliams linkingoverturningrecirculationandmeltinglacialfjords |