Implications for the lithospheric structure of Greenland by applying different heat flow models

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Wansing ◽  
Jörg Ebbing ◽  
Mareen Lösing ◽  
Sergei Lebedev ◽  
Nicolas Celli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Heat Dissipation ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Similarity Function ◽  
Lithospheric Structure ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
Ice Sheet Dynamics

<p>The lithospheric structure of Greenland is still poorly known due to its thick ice sheet, the sparseness of seismological stations, and the limitation of geological outcrops near coastal areas. As only a few geothermal measurements are available for Greenland, one must rely on geophysical models. Such models of Moho and LAB depths and sub-ice geothermal heat-flow vary largely.</p><p>Our approach is to model the lithospheric architecture by geophysical-petrological modelling with LitMod3D. The model is built to reproduce gravity observations, the observed elevation with isostasy assumptions and the velocities from a tomography model. Furthermore, we adjust the thermal parameters and the temperature structure of the model to agree with different geothermal heat flow models. We use three different heat flow models, one from machine learning, one from a spectral analysis of magnetic data and another one which is compiled from a similarity study with tomography data.</p><p>For the latter, a new shear wave tomography model of Greenland is used. Vs-depth profiles from Greenland are compared with velocity profiles from the US Array, where a statistical link between Vs profiles and surface heat flow has been established. A similarity function determines the most similar areas in the U.S. and assigns the mean heat-flow from these areas to the corresponding area in Greenland.</p><p>The geothermal heat flow models will be further used to discuss the influence on ice sheet dynamics by comparison to friction heat and viscous heat dissipation from surface meltwater.</p>

Antarctic Sedimentary Basins: defining crucial constraints on ice-sheet and solid-earth dynamic interactions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Aitken ◽  
Lu Li ◽  
Bernd Kulessa ◽  
Thomas Jordan ◽  
Joanne Whittaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Sedimentary Basins ◽  
Weddell Sea ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Crystalline Bedrock ◽  
Ice Sheet Dynamics ◽  
The Antarctic

<p>Subglacial and ice-sheet marginal sedimentary basins have very different physical properties to crystalline bedrock and, therefore, form distinct conditions that influence the flow of ice above. Sedimentary rocks are particularly soft and erodible, and therefore capable of sustaining layers of subglacial till that may deform to facilitate fast ice flow downstream. Furthermore, sedimentary rocks are relatively permeable and thus allow for enhanced fluid flux, with associated impacts on ice-sheet dynamics, including feedbacks with subglacial hydrologic systems and transport of heat to the ice-sheet bed. Despite the importance for ice-sheet dynamics there is, at present, no comprehensive record of sedimentary basins in the Antarctic continent, limiting our capacity to investigate these influences. Here we develop the first version of an Antarctic-wide spatial database of sedimentary basins, their geometries and physical attributes. We emphasise the definition of in-situ and undeformed basins that retain their primary characteristics, including relative weakness and high permeability, and therefore are more likely to influence ice sheet dynamics. We define the likely extents and nature of sedimentary basins, considering a range of geological and geophysical data, including: outcrop observations, gravity and magnetic data, radio-echo sounding data and passive and active-source seismic data. Our interpretation also involves derivative products from these data, including analyses guided by machine learning. The database includes for each basin its defining characteristics in the source datasets, and interpreted information on likely basin age, sedimentary thickness, surface morphology and tectonic type. The database is constructed in ESRI geodatabase format and is suitable for incorporation in multifaceted data-interpretation and modelling procedures. It can be readily updated given new information. We define extensive basins in both East and West Antarctica, including major regions in the Ross and Weddell Sea embayments and the Amundsen Sea region of West Antarctica, and the Wilkes, Aurora and Recovery subglacial basins of East Antarctica. The compilation includes smaller basins within crystalline-bedrock dominated areas such as the Transantarctic Mountains, the Antarctic Peninsula and Dronning Maud Land. The distribution of sedimentary basins reveals the combined influence of the tectonic and glacial history of Antarctica on the current and future configuration of the Antarctic Ice Sheet and highlights areas in which the presence of dynamically-evolving subglacial till layers and the exchange of groundwater and heat with the ice sheet bed  are more likely, contributing to dynamic behaviour of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.  </p>

scholarly journals Using ice-flow models to evaluate potential sites of million year-old ice in Antarctica

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 2859-2887 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Van Liefferinge ◽  
F. Pattyn
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
Drill Site ◽  
Slow Moving ◽  
Basal Melting ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Suitable Potential

Abstract. Finding suitable potential sites for an undisturbed record of million-year old ice in Antarctica requires a slow-moving ice sheet (preferably an ice divide) and basal conditions that are not disturbed by large topographic variations. Furthermore, ice should be thick and cold basal conditions should prevail, since basal melting would destroy the bottom layers. However, thick ice (needed to resolve the signal at sufficient high resolution) increases basal temperatures, which is a conflicting condition in view of finding a suitable drill site. In addition, slow moving areas in the center of ice sheets are also low-accumulation areas, and low accumulation reduces potential cooling of the ice through vertical advection. While boundary conditions such as ice thickness and accumulation rates are relatively well constraint, the major uncertainty in determining basal conditions resides in the geothermal heat flow (GHF) underneath the ice sheet. We explore uncertainties in existing GHF datasets and their effect on basal temperatures of the Antarctic ice sheet and propose an updated method based on Pattyn (2010) to improve existing GHF datasets in agreement with known basal temperatures and their gradients to reduce this uncertainty. Both complementary methods lead to a better comprehension of basal temperature sensitivity and a characterization of potential ice coring sites within these uncertainties.

Bayesian inversion of magnetic data: A case study of Australia 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixiati Dilixiati ◽  
Wolfgang Szwillus ◽  
Jörg Ebbing
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Magnetic Layer ◽  
Rock Properties ◽  
Magnetic Data ◽  
Dipole Source ◽  
Bayesian Inversion ◽  
Crustal Rock ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Magnetic Model ◽  
Set Up

<p>We apply a Bayesian inversion based on the Monte Carlo Markov chain sampling scheme to magnetic anomaly data of Australia. In our inversion, we simultaneously solve for the susceptibility distribution and the thickness of the magnetic layer. Due to the excellent data coverage, we test our method for Australia. As data source, we use aeromagnetic data of Australia, which are conformed to the recent satellite magnetic model, LCS-1, by an equivalent dipole source approach combined with a spherical harmonic representation. The data are presented in different heights in order to minimize local scale features and to maximize sensitivity to the thickness of the magnetic layer. As constraint, we use estimates of the magnetic layer based on measurements of geothermal heat flow and crustal rock properties. Hereby, we assume that the Curie isotherm does coincide with the deepest magnetic layer. We systematically explore, the effect of increasing model resolution and of the geothermal heat flow values considering their accuracy and quality. The set-up will in the next step be applied to other continental areas of the Earth.</p>

scholarly journals Inversion of Geothermal Heat Flux under the Ice Sheet of Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2760
Author(s):  
Lin Li ◽  
Xueyuan Tang ◽  
Jingxue Guo ◽  
Xiangbin Cui ◽  
Enzhao Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Water System ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Curie Depth ◽  
Ice Sheet Dynamics ◽  
Steady State Heat ◽  
The One

Antarctic geothermal heat flux is a basic input variable for ice sheet dynamics simulation. It greatly affects the temperature and mechanical properties at the bottom of the ice sheet, influencing sliding, melting, and internal deformation. Due to the fact that the Antarctica is covered by a thick ice sheet, direct measurements of heat flux are very limited. This study was carried out to estimate the regional heat flux in the Antarctic continent through geophysical inversion. Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica is one of the areas in which we have a weak understanding of geothermal heat flux. Through the latest airborne geomagnetic data, we inverted the Curie depth, obtaining the heat flux of bedrock based on the one-dimensional steady-state heat conduction equation. The results indicated that the Curie depth of the Princess Elizabeth Land is shallower than previously estimated, and the heat flux is consequently higher. Thus, the contribution of subglacial heat flux to the melting at the bottom of the ice sheet is likely greater than previously expected in this region. It further provides research clues for the formation of the developed subglacial water system in Princess Elizabeth Land.

scholarly journals Greenland Geothermal Heat Flow Database and Map (Version 1)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Colgan ◽  
Agnes Wansing ◽  
Kenneth Mankoff ◽  
Mareen Lösing ◽  
John Hopper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Flow Model ◽  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
The North ◽  
Marine Areas ◽  
Heat Flow Model

Abstract. We compile, analyse and map all available geothermal heat flow measurements collected in and around Greenland into a new database of 419 sites and generate an accompanying spatial map. This database includes 290 sites previously reported by the International Heat Flow Commission (IHFC), for which we now standardize measurement and metadata quality. This database also includes 129 new sites, which have not been previously reported by the IHFC. These new sites consist of 88 offshore measurements and 41 onshore measurements, of which 24 are subglacial. We employ machine learning to synthesize these in situ measurements into a gridded geothermal heat flow model that is consistent across both continental and marine areas in and around Greenland. This model has a native horizontal resolution of 55 km. In comparison to five existing Greenland geothermal heat flow models, our model has the lowest mean geothermal heat flow for Greenland onshore areas (44 mW m–2). Our model’s most distinctive spatial feature is pronounced low geothermal heat flow (< 40 mW m–2) across the North Atlantic Craton of southern Greenland. Crucially, our model does not show an area of elevated heat flow that might be interpreted as remnant from the Icelandic Plume track. Finally, we discuss the substantial influence of paleoclimatic and other corrections on geothermal heat flow measurements in Greenland. The in-situ measurement database and gridded heat flow model, as well as other supporting materials, are freely available from the GEUS DataVerse (https://doi.org/10.22008/FK2/F9P03L; Colgan and Wansing, 2021).

scholarly journals Using ice-flow models to evaluate potential sites of million year-old ice in Antarctica

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 2335-2345 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Van Liefferinge ◽  
F. Pattyn
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Ice Thickness ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Flow Models ◽  
Slow Moving ◽  
Basal Melting ◽  
The Antarctic

Abstract. Finding suitable potential sites for an undisturbed record of million-year old ice in Antarctica requires slow-moving ice (preferably an ice divide) and basal conditions that are not disturbed by large topographic variations. Furthermore, ice should be thick and cold basal conditions should prevail, since basal melting would destroy the bottom layers. However, thick ice (needed to resolve the signal at sufficient high resolution) increases basal temperatures, which is a conflicting condition for finding a suitable drill site. In addition, slow moving areas in the center of ice sheets are also low-accumulation areas, and low accumulation reduces potential cooling of the ice through vertical advection. While boundary conditions such as ice thickness and accumulation rates are relatively well constrained, the major uncertainty in determining basal thermal conditions resides in the geothermal heat flow (GHF) underneath the ice sheet. We explore uncertainties in existing GHF data sets and their effect on basal temperatures of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, and propose an updated method based on Pattyn (2010) to improve existing GHF data sets in agreement with known basal temperatures and their gradients to reduce this uncertainty. Both complementary methods lead to a better comprehension of basal temperature sensitivity and a characterization of potential ice coring sites within these uncertainties. The combination of both modeling approaches show that the most likely oldest ice sites are situated near the divide areas (close to existing deep drilling sites, but in areas of smaller ice thickness) and across the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains.

scholarly journals High geothermal heat flow beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica inferred from aeromagnetic data

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricarda Dziadek ◽  
Fausto Ferraccioli ◽  
Karsten Gohl
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
The West ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Amundsen Sea ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Curie Depth ◽  
Depth Analysis

AbstractGeothermal heat flow in the polar regions plays a crucial role in understanding ice-sheet dynamics and predictions of sea level rise. Continental-scale indirect estimates often have a low spatial resolution and yield largest discrepancies in West Antarctica. Here we analyse geophysical data to estimate geothermal heat flow in the Amundsen Sea Sector of West Antarctica. With Curie depth analysis based on a new magnetic anomaly grid compilation, we reveal variations in lithospheric thermal gradients. We show that the rapidly retreating Thwaites and Pope glaciers in particular are underlain by areas of largely elevated geothermal heat flow, which relates to the tectonic and magmatic history of the West Antarctic Rift System in this region. Our results imply that the behavior of this vulnerable sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is strongly coupled to the dynamics of the underlying lithosphere.

scholarly journals The cooling signature of basal crevasses in a hard-bedded region of the Greenland Ice Sheet

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 897-907
Author(s):  
Ian E. McDowell ◽  
Neil F. Humphrey ◽  
Joel T. Harper ◽  
Toby W. Meierbachtol
Keyword(s):  
Latent Heat ◽  
Thermal State ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Temperature Structure ◽  
Ablation Zone ◽  
Geothermal Heat ◽  
Basal Ice ◽  
Thermomechanical Processes

Abstract. Temperature sensors installed in a grid of nine full-depth boreholes drilled in the southwestern ablation zone of the Greenland Ice Sheet recorded cooling in discrete sections of ice over time within the lowest third of the ice column in most boreholes. Rates of temperature change outpace cooling expected from vertical conduction alone. Additionally, observed temperature profiles deviate significantly from the site-average thermal profile that is shaped by all thermomechanical processes upstream. These deviations imply recent, localized changes to the basal thermal state in the boreholes. Although numerous heat sources exist to add energy and warm ice as it moves from the central divide towards the margin such as strain heat from internal deformation, latent heat from refreezing meltwater, and the conduction of geothermal heat across the ice–bedrock interface, identifying heat sinks proves more difficult. After eliminating possible mechanisms that could cause cooling, we find that the observed cooling is a manifestation of previous warming in near-basal ice. Thermal decay after latent heat is released from freezing water in basal crevasses is the most likely mechanism resulting in the transient evolution of temperature and the vertical thermal structure observed at our site. We argue basal crevasses are a viable englacial heat source in the basal ice of Greenland's ablation zone and may have a controlling influence on the temperature structure of the near-basal ice.

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