Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Geophysical Research Letters

Rights and Access Note

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Publication Date

12-30-2008

Issue Number

24

Publication Number

L24503

Volume Number

35

Abstract/ Summary

Geodetic observations show several large, sudden increases in flow speed at Helheim Glacier, one of Greenland's largest outlet glaciers, during summer, 2007. These step-like accelerations, detected along the length of the glacier, coincide with teleseismically detected glacial earthquakes and major iceberg calving events. No coseismic offset in the position of the glacier surface is observed; instead, modest tsunamis associated with the glacial earthquakes implicate glacier calving in the seismogenic process. Our results link changes in glacier velocity directly to calving-front behavior at Greenland's largest outlet glaciers, on timescales as short as minutes to hours, and clarify the mechanism by which glacial earthquakes occur. Citation: Nettles, M., et al. (2008), Step-wise changes in glacier flow speed coincide with calving and glacial earthquakes at Helheim Glacier, Greenland, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L24503, doi: 10.1029/2008GL036127.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Nettles, M, Larsen, TB, Elosegui, P, Hamilton, GS, Stearns, LA, Ahlstrom, AP, Davis, JL, et al., 2008, Step-Wise Changes in Glacier Flow Speed Coincide With Calving and Glacial Earthquakes at Helheim Glacier, Greenland: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 35, L24503. To view the published open abstract, go to http://dx.doi.org and enter the DOI.

Publisher Statement

© Copyright 2008 American Geophysical Union

DOI

10.1029/2008GL036127

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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