Meltwater flux and runoff modeling in the ablation area of Jakobshavn Isbræ, West Greenland

Surface runoff from the Jakobshavn Glacier contributes only about 7% of the total freshwater flux to Ilulissat Icefjord, with an average annual volume of approximately 3.4 km³. This finding emerges from a study that modeled meltwater flux and runoff in the glacier's ablation area using high-resolution meteorological data and the SnowModel system. The research, spanning 2000/01 to 2006/07, validated its simulations against winter snow depth observations and MODIS-derived summer melt data. While both runoff and ice discharge showed increasing trends during this period, the overall freshwater flux remained relatively stable. This study highlights the minor but significant role of surface runoff in the broader context of glacial freshwater input to Ilulissat Icefjord.

Mernild, S. H., Liston, G. E., Steffen, K., & Chylek, P. (2010). Meltwater flux and runoff modeling in the ablation area of Jakobshavn Isbræ, West Greenland. Journal of Glaciology, 56(195), 20–32. https://doi.org/10.3189/002214310791190794