Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)

Jutulstraumen is a major outlet glacier in East Antarctica that drains into the Fimbulisen, Dronning Maud Land (DML). Here, we present the first long-term (∼60 years) record of its behavior using optical satellite imagery. Our analysis reveals that the ice front has been steadily advancing since its...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anwesha Sharma, Chris R. Stokes, Stewart S.R. Jamieson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Glaciology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143025000292/type/journal_article
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850128464536928256
author Anwesha Sharma
Chris R. Stokes
Stewart S.R. Jamieson
author_facet Anwesha Sharma
Chris R. Stokes
Stewart S.R. Jamieson
author_sort Anwesha Sharma
collection DOAJ
description Jutulstraumen is a major outlet glacier in East Antarctica that drains into the Fimbulisen, Dronning Maud Land (DML). Here, we present the first long-term (∼60 years) record of its behavior using optical satellite imagery. Our analysis reveals that the ice front has been steadily advancing since its last major calving event in 1967, with a steady ice flow velocity of ∼720 ± 66 m yr−1 (2000–2021), accompanied by spatially variable thickening of the grounded ice at +0.14 ± 0.04 m yr−1 (2003–2020). We also find evidence to suggest a minor grounding line advance of ∼200 m between 1990 and 2022, albeit with large uncertainties. Mapping of the major rifts on Jutulstraumen’s ice tongue (2003–2022) reveals an overall increase in their length, accompanied by some minor calving events along its lateral margins. Given the present-day ice front advance rates (∼740 m yr−1), the ice tongue would reach its most recent maximum extent (attained in the mid-1960s), in ∼40 years, but extrapolation of rift lengthening suggests that a major calving event may occur sooner, possibly in the late 2050s. Overall, there is no evidence of any dynamic imbalance, mirroring other major glaciers in DML.
format Article
id doaj-art-4d708f8cd8d34859bfdcca5ea8617913
institution OA Journals
issn 0022-1430
1727-5652
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Cambridge University Press
record_format Article
series Journal of Glaciology
spelling doaj-art-4d708f8cd8d34859bfdcca5ea86179132025-08-20T02:33:18ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522025-01-017110.1017/jog.2025.29Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)Anwesha Sharma0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2941-7312Chris R. Stokes1Stewart S.R. Jamieson2Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, UKDepartment of Geography, Durham University, Durham, UKDepartment of Geography, Durham University, Durham, UKJutulstraumen is a major outlet glacier in East Antarctica that drains into the Fimbulisen, Dronning Maud Land (DML). Here, we present the first long-term (∼60 years) record of its behavior using optical satellite imagery. Our analysis reveals that the ice front has been steadily advancing since its last major calving event in 1967, with a steady ice flow velocity of ∼720 ± 66 m yr−1 (2000–2021), accompanied by spatially variable thickening of the grounded ice at +0.14 ± 0.04 m yr−1 (2003–2020). We also find evidence to suggest a minor grounding line advance of ∼200 m between 1990 and 2022, albeit with large uncertainties. Mapping of the major rifts on Jutulstraumen’s ice tongue (2003–2022) reveals an overall increase in their length, accompanied by some minor calving events along its lateral margins. Given the present-day ice front advance rates (∼740 m yr−1), the ice tongue would reach its most recent maximum extent (attained in the mid-1960s), in ∼40 years, but extrapolation of rift lengthening suggests that a major calving event may occur sooner, possibly in the late 2050s. Overall, there is no evidence of any dynamic imbalance, mirroring other major glaciers in DML.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143025000292/type/journal_articleAntarctic glaciersIce dynamicsRift propagation
spellingShingle Anwesha Sharma
Chris R. Stokes
Stewart S.R. Jamieson
Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)
Journal of Glaciology
Antarctic glaciers
Ice dynamics
Rift propagation
title Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)
title_full Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)
title_fullStr Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)
title_full_unstemmed Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)
title_short Ice dynamics and structural evolution of Jutulstraumen, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica (1963–2022)
title_sort ice dynamics and structural evolution of jutulstraumen dronning maud land east antarctica 1963 2022
topic Antarctic glaciers
Ice dynamics
Rift propagation
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143025000292/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT anweshasharma icedynamicsandstructuralevolutionofjutulstraumendronningmaudlandeastantarctica19632022
AT chrisrstokes icedynamicsandstructuralevolutionofjutulstraumendronningmaudlandeastantarctica19632022
AT stewartsrjamieson icedynamicsandstructuralevolutionofjutulstraumendronningmaudlandeastantarctica19632022