VIRTUAL | Atmospheric Processes and their Impact on the 79° North Glacier, Northeast Greenland
LOCATION
Virtual Meeting
SPEAKER | Dr Jenny Turton, Friedrich-Alexander Universitat Erlangen, Germany
My research focuses on the interaction between the atmosphere and cryosphere in the polar regions and mountains. More specifically, I investigate the spatial distribution, frequency and impact of atmospheric processes on surface melting of glaciers and ice shelves. So far, I have focused on the Larsen C ice shelf, 79N glacier (northeast Greenland) and the Patagonian ice fields.
I am passionate about science communication and regularly participate in and organise workshops, events and lectures for a variety of audiences. Most recently, I participated in the ‘long night of science’ at Friedrich Alexander University and spoke with journalists and radio hosts about climate change in the Arctic.
I started my position at Arctic Frontiers on 1st January. This is an organisation which creates dialogues between scientists, policy makers, governments and local communities in the Arctic. From April 2019 to April 2021 I was the Early Career Scientist (ECS) representative for the cryosphere division of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). As part of this role, I communicate the needs and voices of the division with council members of the union. I have organised webinars on careers outside of academia and chaired a debate focusing on the balance between conducting science and reducing our carbon footprint.
In August 2017 I defended my PhD on the spatial and temporal distribution of föhn winds and their impact on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctica. I studied for my PhD jointly with the British Antarctic Survey and the University of Leeds.
ABSTRACT | Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden or 79° North Glacier drains approximately 8% of the Greenland ice stream and is the largest remaining ice shelf in the Arctic. Since the mid 2000's, the glacier has been thinning, retreating and melting at a faster rate. In 2019 and 2020, two large icebergs calved following exceptionally warm summers. The glacier has a floating tongue, which extends approximately 80km into the ocean, which means the glacier is exposed to both a warming ocean and a warming atmosphere. During winter, the passing of storms along the coast can raise the air temperature to the melting point and produce rainfall. In winter, atmospheric rivers pass over the ice sheet and produce extreme melting through the föhn mechanism. Recent evidence suggests that melting is now occurring at a higher elevation than in the early 2000's. In this talk, the key atmospheric processes in the region was presented, along with a discussion of the impact they are having on the glacier through enhanced ice melting.
This was a 45 minute talk followed by 15 minutes for Q&A. The meeting was open from 5:50 pm for attendees to join and the event started promptly at 6 pm.
VIRTUAL | Atmospheric Processes and their Impact on the 79° North Glacier, Northeast Greenland - Recording
SPEAKER | Dr Jenny Turton, Friedrich-Alexander Universitat Erlangen, Germany
My research focuses on the interaction between the atmosphere and cryosphere in the polar regions and mountains. More specifically, I investigate the spatial distribution, frequency and impact of atmospheric processes on surface melting of glaciers and ice shelves. So far, I have focused on the Larsen C ice shelf, 79N glacier (northeast Greenland) and the Patagonian ice fields.
I am passionate about science communication and regularly participate in and organise workshops, events and lectures for a variety of audiences. Most recently, I participated in the ‘long night of science’ at Friedrich Alexander University and spoke with journalists and radio hosts about climate change in the Arctic.
I started my position at Arctic Frontiers on 1st January. This is an organisation which creates dialogues between scientists, policy makers, governments and local communities in the Arctic. From April 2019 to April 2021 I was the Early Career Scientist (ECS) representative for the cryosphere division of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). As part of this role, I communicate the needs and voices of the division with council members of the union. I have organised webinars on careers outside of academia and chaired a debate focusing on the balance between conducting science and reducing our carbon footprint.
In August 2017 I defended my PhD on the spatial and temporal distribution of föhn winds and their impact on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctica. I studied for my PhD jointly with the British Antarctic Survey and the University of Leeds.
ABSTRACT | Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden or 79° North Glacier drains approximately 8% of the Greenland ice stream and is the largest remaining ice shelf in the Arctic. Since the mid 2000's, the glacier has been thinning, retreating and melting at a faster rate. In 2019 and 2020, two large icebergs calved following exceptionally warm summers. The glacier has a floating tongue, which extends approximately 80km into the ocean, which means the glacier is exposed to both a warming ocean and a warming atmosphere. During winter, the passing of storms along the coast can raise the air temperature to the melting point and produce rainfall. In winter, atmospheric rivers pass over the ice sheet and produce extreme melting through the föhn mechanism. Recent evidence suggests that melting is now occurring at a higher elevation than in the early 2000's. In this talk, the key atmospheric processes in the region was presented, along with a discussion of the impact they are having on the glacier through enhanced ice melting.
This was a 45 minute talk followed by 15 minutes for Q&A. The meeting was open from 5:50 pm for attendees to join and the event started promptly at 6 pm.