Esta dissertação investiga o registro de conteúdo iônico do testemunho de gelo monte Johns (79°55'28"S; 94°23'18"O) obtido na Antártica Ocidental, contribuindo para o adensamento espacial de informações glacioquímicas empregadas em estudos paleoclimáticos. As concentrações de Na+ (16,6 ± 28,2 μg L-1), K+ (1,3 ± 3,7 μg L-1), Mg2+ (3,7 ± 3,7 μg L-1), Ca2+ (5,4 ± 3,4 μg L-1), Cl- (33,3 ± 43,7 μg L-1), SO42- (25,9 ± 17,7 μg L-1), NO3- (50,8 ± 18,5 μg L-1) e H3CSO3- (7,1 ± 5,4 μg L-1) foram determinadas por cromatografia iônica em 2.164 amostras para o período 1882–2008. A variabilidade sazonal de NO3- e, especialmente do nssSO42-, em antifase com Na+, possibilitou a datação pela contagem de ciclos anuais ao longo do período estudado. A identificação dos sinais vulcânicos do Krakatoa (1883), Agung (1963) e Pinatubo/Hudson (1991) foi usada para determinar horizontes de referência (datação absoluta). Eventos de aporte significativo de aerossóis foram identificados e agrupados considerando o conteúdo iônico, proveniência e estação do ano. A avaliação da proveniência dos íons e do balanço iônico mostra a origem da carga iônica: 36% é oriunda de aerossóis de sal marinho, 13% de poeira mineral, 17% de atividade biogênica marinha e 34% de produtos da reatividade química na atmosfera. É observada uma leve redução nas concentrações de Mg2+ (-0,04 μg L-1 ano-1) e K+ (-0,01 μg L-1 ano-1), e mais forte para NO3- (-0,17 μg L-1 ano-1), no período 1909–2008. A média anual da acumulação líquida de neve foi 0,21 ± 0,04 m eq. H2O no período 1882–2008 sem apresentar tendência significante. A acumulação mostra alta correspondência com dados anuais de reanálise climática, com coeficiente de correlação cruzada de +0,42 (α < 0,05) para o período 1979–2008. / This dissertation investigates the ionic content record of the mount Johns ice core (79°55'28"S; 94°23'18"W) recovered from the West Antarctica, contributing to the spatial densification of glaciochemical information used in paleoclimatic studies. The concentrations of Na+ (16.6 ± 28.2 μg L-1), K+ (1.3 ± 3.7 μg L-1), Mg2+ (3.7 ± 3.7 μg L-1), Ca2+ (5.4 ± 3.4 μg L-1), Cl- (33.3 ± 43.7 μg L-1), SO42- (25.9 ± 17.7 μg L-1), NO3- (50.8 ± 18.5 μg L-1) e H3CSO3- (7.1 ± 5.4 μg L-1) were determined by ion chromatography on 2,164 samples for the period 1882–2008. The NO3- seasonal variability and, especially, of the nssSO42- in antiphase with the Na+, allowed the counting of annual cycles over the studied period. The identification of Krakatau (1883), Agung (1963) and Pinatubo / Hudson (1991) volcanic signals was used to determine reference horizons (absolute dating). Significant aerosols events were identified and grouped considering the ionic content, provenance and season of the year. The evaluation of the ions provenance and of the ionic balance points to ionic content origin: 36% come from sea salt aerosols, 13% from mineral dust, 17% originate from marine biogenic activity and 34% are chemical reactivity products in the atmosphere. It is observed a slight reduction in the Mg2+ (-0.04 μg L-1 y-1) and K+ (-0.01 μg L-1 y-1) concentrations, and stronger in the NO3- (-0.17 μg L-1 y-1), during the 1909–2008 period. The annual mean net accumulation rate averaged 0.21 ± 0.04 m w.e. y-1 in the period 1882–2008 did not show any significant trend and shows high correspondence with climatic reanalysis data in years with data overlap, with a cross-correlation coefficient of +0.42 (α < 0.05) for the period 1979–2008.

La modélisation des calottes polaires est importante pour reconstruire l'état passé des calottes, comprendre l'état présent, et prévoir son évolution dans le contexte du réchauffement climatique et de l'élévation du niveau des mers. Les mécanismes qui interviennent dans la dynamique des calottes de glace et qui dépendent du climat sont nombreux, mais pour l'Antarctique il y a deux mécanismes très importants qui s'opposent : L'augmentation de la température qui est supposée entraîner une augmentation de la précipitation et un épaississement de la calotte, et l'intensification de l'écoulement de la glace qui tend à amincir la calotte. Pour étudier ces deux mécanismes, nous avons suivi deux approches : caractériser la calotte à partir des observations directes (c.-à-d. topographie de la surface et les vitesses d'écoulement de glace) ou indirectes (c.-à-d. Flux de bilan). Et la modéliser avec GRISLI (GRenoble Ice Shelf and Land Ice), en prenant en considération la dynamique des fleuves de glace et leurs localisations précises, pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes actifs qui interviennent dans la calotte. Le sujet de la thèse est l'amélioration de la modélisation de la calotte Antarctique à partir des données disponibles. Notamment celles basées sur la première et la deuxième dérivées de la surface (pente et courbures respectivement) pour faire des liens avec le drainage de la glace, et les structures de vitesses de bilan. Ces informations nous ont permis entre autres de développer différentes méthodes pour autoriser les fleuves de glace, qui ensuite ont été introduites dans GRISLI. Nous avons ensuite fait plusieurs études de sensibilité de la calotte sur les localisations des fleuves de glace, les données du flux géothermique et des paramètres qui contrôlent le glissement et la déformation de la glace. Enfin nous avons fait des comparaisons entre les structures observées et modélisées de la calotte, et nous avons vu que le modèle n'est pas loin de reproduire les structures observées. / Modelling of the polar ice sheets is important to reconstruct its past, understand its current state and predict its evolution in the context of the global warming and rising sea levels. There are numerous mechanisms involved in the dynamics of ice sheets and these are climate-dependent. In particular there are two very important opposing mechanisms: the increase in the temperature which is supposed to lead to increased precipitation and thickening of the ice, and increased melting of the ice, which tends to reduce the mass of the ice sheets. To study these two mechanisms, we followed two approaches: characterize the ice sheets from direct observations (i.e., surface topography and ice flow velocities) or indirect observations (i.e., flow balance), and model it with GRISLI (Grenoble Ice Shelf and Land Ice), taking into account the dynamics of ice streams and their precise locations, to better understand the active mechanisms involved in the ice sheets. The subject of this thesis is to improve the modelling of ice sheets from the available data, especially those based on the first and second derivatives of the surface (slope and curvature respectively), and to link with the ice drainage, and velocity structure outcome. This data has allowed us to develop methods to model ice flows, subsequently introduce them into the GRISLI. We then made several sensitivity studies of the ice sheets, to localize ice streams, geothermal data flow and the parameters that control the slip and deformation of the ice. Finally, we compare the observed and modelled structures of the ice sheets, and show that model results are not far from the actual observed structures.

Esta dissertação investiga o registro de conteúdo iônico do testemunho de gelo monte Johns (79°55'28"S; 94°23'18"O) obtido na Antártica Ocidental, contribuindo para o adensamento espacial de informações glacioquímicas empregadas em estudos paleoclimáticos. As concentrações de Na+ (16,6 ± 28,2 μg L-1), K+ (1,3 ± 3,7 μg L-1), Mg2+ (3,7 ± 3,7 μg L-1), Ca2+ (5,4 ± 3,4 μg L-1), Cl- (33,3 ± 43,7 μg L-1), SO42- (25,9 ± 17,7 μg L-1), NO3- (50,8 ± 18,5 μg L-1) e H3CSO3- (7,1 ± 5,4 μg L-1) foram determinadas por cromatografia iônica em 2.164 amostras para o período 1882–2008. A variabilidade sazonal de NO3- e, especialmente do nssSO42-, em antifase com Na+, possibilitou a datação pela contagem de ciclos anuais ao longo do período estudado. A identificação dos sinais vulcânicos do Krakatoa (1883), Agung (1963) e Pinatubo/Hudson (1991) foi usada para determinar horizontes de referência (datação absoluta). Eventos de aporte significativo de aerossóis foram identificados e agrupados considerando o conteúdo iônico, proveniência e estação do ano. A avaliação da proveniência dos íons e do balanço iônico mostra a origem da carga iônica: 36% é oriunda de aerossóis de sal marinho, 13% de poeira mineral, 17% de atividade biogênica marinha e 34% de produtos da reatividade química na atmosfera. É observada uma leve redução nas concentrações de Mg2+ (-0,04 μg L-1 ano-1) e K+ (-0,01 μg L-1 ano-1), e mais forte para NO3- (-0,17 μg L-1 ano-1), no período 1909–2008. A média anual da acumulação líquida de neve foi 0,21 ± 0,04 m eq. H2O no período 1882–2008 sem apresentar tendência significante. A acumulação mostra alta correspondência com dados anuais de reanálise climática, com coeficiente de correlação cruzada de +0,42 (α < 0,05) para o período 1979–2008. / This dissertation investigates the ionic content record of the mount Johns ice core (79°55'28"S; 94°23'18"W) recovered from the West Antarctica, contributing to the spatial densification of glaciochemical information used in paleoclimatic studies. The concentrations of Na+ (16.6 ± 28.2 μg L-1), K+ (1.3 ± 3.7 μg L-1), Mg2+ (3.7 ± 3.7 μg L-1), Ca2+ (5.4 ± 3.4 μg L-1), Cl- (33.3 ± 43.7 μg L-1), SO42- (25.9 ± 17.7 μg L-1), NO3- (50.8 ± 18.5 μg L-1) e H3CSO3- (7.1 ± 5.4 μg L-1) were determined by ion chromatography on 2,164 samples for the period 1882–2008. The NO3- seasonal variability and, especially, of the nssSO42- in antiphase with the Na+, allowed the counting of annual cycles over the studied period. The identification of Krakatau (1883), Agung (1963) and Pinatubo / Hudson (1991) volcanic signals was used to determine reference horizons (absolute dating). Significant aerosols events were identified and grouped considering the ionic content, provenance and season of the year. The evaluation of the ions provenance and of the ionic balance points to ionic content origin: 36% come from sea salt aerosols, 13% from mineral dust, 17% originate from marine biogenic activity and 34% are chemical reactivity products in the atmosphere. It is observed a slight reduction in the Mg2+ (-0.04 μg L-1 y-1) and K+ (-0.01 μg L-1 y-1) concentrations, and stronger in the NO3- (-0.17 μg L-1 y-1), during the 1909–2008 period. The annual mean net accumulation rate averaged 0.21 ± 0.04 m w.e. y-1 in the period 1882–2008 did not show any significant trend and shows high correspondence with climatic reanalysis data in years with data overlap, with a cross-correlation coefficient of +0.42 (α < 0.05) for the period 1979–2008.

A consequence of climate change is rising global sea levels, predicted to bring increased socio-economic and environmental impacts to coastal communities. The Greenland Ice Sheet has become a prominent contributor to rising sea levels, a consequence of the Arctic warming at twice the rate of the global average. Mass loss from the ice sheet is separated between changes in surface mass balance and ice discharge at marine terminating outlet glaciers, with the later dominating mass loss over the past fifty years. While advances in ice sheet modelling have provided greater clarity on Greenland’s future mass loss, there remains inefficiencies in modelling the response of outlet glaciers in Greenland’s fjords. This thesis aims to provide greater insight into behaviour of Kangerlussuaq Glacier, SE Greenland, by employing a 2D flowline model to understand the processes governing ice dynamics and to explore how the glacier may respond to a warming climate. Results indicate that the presence of a winter ice mélange is the principle dictator of Kangerlussuaq Glacier’s behaviour and likely protects against further retreat towards a reverse sloped section of bedrock. However, if such a retreat does materialise, then large overdeepenings in Kangerlussuaq Fjord raise the spectre of uncontrollable retreat and excessive mass loss.

No description available.

To identify a climate trend, a lot of data is required for the conclusion to be accurate. A trend can require 30 years worth of measurements in order to say anything with certainty about how the climate is changing. It is therefore important to utilize every source of data in climate research. In this thesis, weather data from the Smart Stake weather stations on the Greenland ice sheet was reprocessed and utilized in analysis after not having been worked with since the early 2000s. Erroneous data was selectively discarded, and the remaining data was merged for each of the five Smart Stake stations. After being formatted, the data was adjusted and processed by filters in order to reduce the amount of noise in the measurements. The measured quantities, such as temperature, wind velocity and snow height, were plotted and compared in order to establish the causes of increased melting at certain stations. 2003 was found to be a year with more melt around the Smart Stake stations than other years, and 2004 was found to have particularly small amounts of melt occurring. A station at a lower elevation than others, experiencing higher than average temperatures, measured more melting. This implies a reliable data set which means that the data from the Smart Stake stations can be used in further research, in climate models and for verification purposes, as well as by legislators and for construction planning. / För att kunna identifiera en klimattrend krävs en stor mängd data. En trend kan kräva en mängd data som motsvarar 30 år av mätningar för att säkert kunna säga hur klimatet förändras. Det är därför viktigt att utnyttja all data som samlas in för att kunna skapa noggranna klimatmodeller och dra korrekta slutsatser. I denna avhandling bearbetades väderdata från fem Smart Stake väderstationer på Grönlands istäcke på nytt. Mätningarna från dessa väderstationerhar inte utnyttjats sedan de sattes upp under tidiga 2000-talet. Felaktiga mätningar blev selektivt bortplockade och resterande data formatterades och sammanfogades till en fil per väderstation. Datan justerades och bearbetades sedan med hjälp av filter för att reducera mängden brus i mätningarna och markera ytterligare felaktig data. De uppmätta storheterna, exempelvis temperatur, vindhastighet och snöhöjd, visualiserades i diagram och jämfördes med mängden smält is och snö för att identifiera orsaken till högre uppmätt mängd smält is kring vissa väderstationer. 2003 visade sig vara ett år då mer smältning uppmättes än andra år, och 2004 ett år då inte lika mycket smält is uppmättes av Smart Stake väderstationerna. En station belägen på en lägre höjd över havet, som upplevde högre medeltemperaturer, var också benägen att uppmäta mer smält is. Detta implicerar att mätningarna från Smart Stake stationerna är pålitliga och att de kan användas till vidare forskning och klimatmodellering samt av lagstiftare och till planering av infrastruktur och byggnadskonstruktion.

Ku-band dual-polarization radar backscatter measurements from the SeaWinds on QuikScat (QuikScat) and SeaWinds on ADEOS-2 (SeaWinds) scatterometers are used to classify the melt state and estimate melt severity in Greenland. Backscatter measurements are organized into high temporal and high spatial resolution images created using the Scatterometer Image Reconstruction (SIR) algorithm and a new temporal data segmentation technique. Melt detection is performed using a layered electromagnetic model combined with a Markov chain model. The new melt detection method allows classification of the snow-pack into three states: melt, refreeze, and frozen. Melt severity and refreeze severity indexes are also developed. The melt detection methods developed in this thesis are verified by using a one-dimensional geophysical/electromagnetic model simulation of the snow-pack under melting conditions and by comparison with in situ weather station data at the ETH Camp in western Greenland. The diurnal cycle of backscatter measurements is also analyzed at this location. The melt detection and estimation method is applied to the entire Greenland ice-sheet. The resulting melt classifications and melt severity indexes are used to generate a number of maps outlining the features of the 2003 melt season. Good agreement of the melt severity and a 1978 SASS Greenland ice facies map is observed.

No description available.

The Greenland ice sheet is the largest Northern Hemisphere store of fresh water, and it is responding rapidly to the warming climate. In situ observations document the changing ice sheet properties in the lower accumulation area, Southwest Greenland. Firn densities from 1840 meters above sea level retrieved in May 2012 revealed the existence of a 5.5-meter-thick, near-surface ice layer in response to the recent increased melt and refreezing in firn. As a consequence, vertical meltwater percolation in the extreme summer 2012 was inefficient, resulting in surface runoff. Meltwater percolated and refroze at six meters depth only after the end of the melt season. This prolonged autumn refreezing under the newly accumulated snowpack resulted in unprecedented firn warming with temperature at ten meters depth increased by more than four degrees Celsius. Simulations confirm that meltwater reached nine meters depth at most. The refrozen meltwater was estimated at 0.23 meters water equivalent, amounting to 25 % of the total 2012 ablation. A surface energy balance model was used to evaluate the seasonal and interannual variability of all surface energy fluxes at that elevation in the years 2009 to 2013. Due to the meltwater presence at the surface in 2012, the summer-averaged albedo was significantly reduced (0.71 in 2012; typically 0.78). A sensitivity analysis revealed that 71 % of the subsequent additional solar radiation in 2012 was used for melt, corresponding to 36 % of the total 2012 surface lowering. This interplay between melt and firn properties highlights that the lower accumulation area of the Greenland ice sheet will be responding rapidly in a warming climate. / Stability and Variations of Arctic Land Ice (SVALI) / Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE) / Greenland Analogue Project (GAP)

Afin d’étudier les changements hydrologiques passés du « lac Noir » (dernière phase lacustre de la mer Noire) et l’expression de la Dernière Déglaciation en Europe centrale, des techniques analytiques variées ont été mises en œuvre sur la carotte MD04-2790 : modélisation, développement de méthodes statistiques, géochimie élémentaire et isotopique. La reconstitution de l’évolution des âges réservoir du « lac Noir » au cours des 30 derniers millénaires a permis de mieux comprendre les réponses hydrologiques du bassin aux changements climatiques (variations du niveau du plan d’eau, phases de stratification, possible déstabilisation d’hydrates de gaz). L’âge de la dernière reconnexion du « lac Noir » avec la mer Méditerranée a été révisé à 9 000 ans BP. L’interprétation des isotopes du Nd en termes de provenance des sédiments a permis de mettre en évidence que les pulses d’eaux de fonte arrivant dans le « lac Noir » au cours de l’événement de Heinrich 1 provenaient de la désintégration de la calotte fennoscandinave. Un mécanisme régional d’interactions climatiques entre lacs proglaciaires et atmosphère a été proposé pour expliquer l’organisation temporelle particulière des pulses d’eaux de fonte. Nos résultats renforcent le paradigme de Denton qui suggère que des stades prolongés sont nécessaires au passage du mode climatique glaciaire au mode interglaciaire. / In order to study the past hydrologic changes of the Black Sea “Lake”, various analytical techniques were applied to study the core MD04-2790: modelling, development of statistical approaches, elemental and isotopic geochemistry. The reconstructed reservoir age changes of the Black Sea “Lake” were interpreted in terms of the hydrologic responses of the lake to glacial/deglacial climate changes (water level change, water column stratification, possible chlatrate dissociation). Calendar age of the Black Sea “Lake” last reconnection to global ocean was also revised to 9,000 yr BP. Finally, drastic changes in &#949;Nd values strongly suggest that sediments deposited in response to Deglacial Water Pulses (DWP) during Heinrich Event 1 (HE1) originated from the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet (FIS), providing the first direct evidence that the Black Sea “Lake” recorded the collapse of the FIS. The peculiar temporal organisation of DWPs suggests outbursts of proglacial lakes into Dniepr catchment as well as regional climatic interactions between proglacial lakes and atmosphere. The HE1-timing of the DWPs occurrence would indicate that FIS was involved in the N-Atlantic circulation reduction that shifted Earth climatic machine towards interglacial conditions in accordance with Denton’s paradigm.