Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss Alps
The term ‘water pocket’ describes invisible en- and subglacial water reservoirs that can cause sudden glacial outburst floods. However, there is currently no consensus on its definition and the formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets remain poorly understood. This study aims to understand...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143025000437/type/journal_article |
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| author | Christophe Ogier Mauro Fischer Mauro A. Werder Matthias Huss Mauro Hupfer Mylène Jacquemart Olivier Gagliardini Adrien Gilbert Leo Hösli Emmanuel Thibert Christian Vincent Daniel Farinotti |
| author_facet | Christophe Ogier Mauro Fischer Mauro A. Werder Matthias Huss Mauro Hupfer Mylène Jacquemart Olivier Gagliardini Adrien Gilbert Leo Hösli Emmanuel Thibert Christian Vincent Daniel Farinotti |
| author_sort | Christophe Ogier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The term ‘water pocket’ describes invisible en- and subglacial water reservoirs that can cause sudden glacial outburst floods. However, there is currently no consensus on its definition and the formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets remain poorly understood. This study aims to understand the mechanisms behind water pocket outburst floods (WPOFs) from alpine glaciers by analyzing their spatial and temporal distribution, pre-event meteorological conditions and the glacio-geomorphic features of the glaciers from which the floods originate. To this end, we updated an inventory of known WPOFs in the Swiss Alps to 91 events from 37 individual glaciers. Most WPOFs occurred between June and September, likely linked to meltwater input. Meteorological data indicate anomalously high temperatures during the days preceding most events and heavy precipitation on 25% of days for which WPOFs occur, indicating that water pockets typically rupture during periods of high water input. We propose four mechanisms of water pocket formation: temporary subglacial channel blockage (which is the mechanism suggested most often for our inventory), hydraulic barriers, water-filled crevasses and accumulation of liquid water behind barriers of cold ice (thermal barriers). Overall, our analysis highlights the challenge of understanding WPOFs due to the subsurface nature of water pockets, emphasizing the need for field-based research to improve their detection and monitoring. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b07caae418ff49fba2ce6f6ccd205700 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| 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-b07caae418ff49fba2ce6f6ccd2057002025-08-20T03:14:49ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522025-01-017110.1017/jog.2025.43Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss AlpsChristophe Ogier0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5526-6071Mauro Fischer1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0950-776XMauro A. Werder2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0137-9377Matthias Huss3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2377-6923Mauro Hupfer4Mylène Jacquemart5Olivier Gagliardini6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9162-3518Adrien Gilbert7Leo Hösli8Emmanuel Thibert9https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2843-5367Christian Vincent10Daniel Farinotti11Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), bâtiment ALPOLE, Sion, Canton of Wallis, SwitzerlandInstitute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Canton of Bern, Switzerland Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Canton of Bern, SwitzerlandLaboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), bâtiment ALPOLE, Sion, Canton of Wallis, SwitzerlandLaboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), bâtiment ALPOLE, Sion, Canton of Wallis, Switzerland Department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Canton of Fribourg, SwitzerlandInstitute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Canton of Bern, SwitzerlandLaboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), bâtiment ALPOLE, Sion, Canton of Wallis, SwitzerlandUniv. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, Isère, FranceUniv. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, Isère, FranceLaboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), bâtiment ALPOLE, Sion, Canton of Wallis, SwitzerlandUniv. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, Isère, FranceUniv. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, Isère, FranceLaboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), bâtiment ALPOLE, Sion, Canton of Wallis, SwitzerlandThe term ‘water pocket’ describes invisible en- and subglacial water reservoirs that can cause sudden glacial outburst floods. However, there is currently no consensus on its definition and the formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets remain poorly understood. This study aims to understand the mechanisms behind water pocket outburst floods (WPOFs) from alpine glaciers by analyzing their spatial and temporal distribution, pre-event meteorological conditions and the glacio-geomorphic features of the glaciers from which the floods originate. To this end, we updated an inventory of known WPOFs in the Swiss Alps to 91 events from 37 individual glaciers. Most WPOFs occurred between June and September, likely linked to meltwater input. Meteorological data indicate anomalously high temperatures during the days preceding most events and heavy precipitation on 25% of days for which WPOFs occur, indicating that water pockets typically rupture during periods of high water input. We propose four mechanisms of water pocket formation: temporary subglacial channel blockage (which is the mechanism suggested most often for our inventory), hydraulic barriers, water-filled crevasses and accumulation of liquid water behind barriers of cold ice (thermal barriers). Overall, our analysis highlights the challenge of understanding WPOFs due to the subsurface nature of water pockets, emphasizing the need for field-based research to improve their detection and monitoring.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143025000437/type/journal_articleglacial outburst floodsnatural hazardsglacier hydrologyglacial water pocket |
| spellingShingle | Christophe Ogier Mauro Fischer Mauro A. Werder Matthias Huss Mauro Hupfer Mylène Jacquemart Olivier Gagliardini Adrien Gilbert Leo Hösli Emmanuel Thibert Christian Vincent Daniel Farinotti Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss Alps Journal of Glaciology glacial outburst floods natural hazards glacier hydrology glacial water pocket |
| title | Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss Alps |
| title_full | Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss Alps |
| title_fullStr | Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss Alps |
| title_short | Definition, formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers: Insights from an updated inventory for the Swiss Alps |
| title_sort | definition formation and rupture mechanisms of water pockets in alpine glaciers insights from an updated inventory for the swiss alps |
| topic | glacial outburst floods natural hazards glacier hydrology glacial water pocket |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143025000437/type/journal_article |
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