Meteorological Observations in 2001 at the Arctic Station, Qeqertarsuaq (69°15′N), Central West Greenland/Measuring calving in Icefall Lake, SE Greenland, using a "Diver" pressure transducer with a built-in datalogger

Abstract

An automatic meteorological station has been operating at the Arctic Station (69° 15′N, 53° 31′W) in West Greenland since 1990. This paper summarises meteorological parameters during 2001, including snow cover, ground temperatures and active layer development.

Abstract

In South East Greenland, the north-western part of the Mittivakkat Glacier calves into a lake, called Icefall Lake, situated at its terminus. To examen the calving frequency of the glacier, a newly developed pressure transducer with a built-in datalogger, the "Diver" was tested in the lake. Using a sampling frequency of 1 min. the logger recorded sporadic strong movements of the lake surface, indicating the calving of pieces of ice. The frequency indicates that these movements are caused by seiches instead of directly produced drop waves. Examination of the simultaneously recorded temperature shows changes in the lake temperature before the waves occur. This supports the hypothesis that the waves are seiches, and furthermore gives an indication about the processes related to the calving. In all it has been demonstrated that the "Diver " is well suited to determine the calving frequency and to study other lake processes connected to the calving.

Keywords:

• Climate
• arctic
• permafrost
• active layer
• snow cover
• Greenland
• Disko Island
• Calving
• Mittivakkat Glacier
• South East Greenland
• pressure transducer