Combined Modeled and Explored Moulin Shape Informs Subglacial Pressure
Dynamics in Western Greenland
Abstract
Ice motion in land terminating regions of the Greenland Ice Sheet is
controlled in part by meltwater input into moulins. Moulins, large
near-vertical shafts that deliver supraglacial water to the bed,
modulate local and regional basal water pressure and ice flow by
influencing subglacial drainage efficiency on daily to seasonal
timescales. Our previous modeling work found that the geometry of a
moulin near the water line has substantial effect on subglacial water
pressure variations. Here, we develop a new physically based moulin
model which can help constrain moulin shape across the ice sheet and its
influence on hydraulic head oscillation, and inform the englacial void
parameter used in glacier hydrology modeling. The Moulin Shape (MouSh)
model (in Matlab and Python) provides new insight into the evolution of
subsurface moulin size and shape at hourly to multi-year timescales. The
modeled moulin is initialized as a vertical cylinder. The moulin walls
melt back above and below the water line due to the dissipation of
turbulent energy, open or close due to viscous and elastic deformation,
and freeze inward in winter when cold air temperatures and an absence of
meltwater allow refreezing. We combine MouSh modeling results with
geometric data from two moulins in Pâkitsoq, western Greenland, which we
mapped to the water line. The moulins have heterogeneous shapes and
volumes in the top 100 m. This suggests that the size and shape of the
upper portion is controlled by local and regional pre-existing
fractures, which provide preferential paths for water flow and melting,
creating stochastic karst-like conduit shapes. Modeling results show
that moulin geometry below the water line is influenced by the hydraulic
head, which controls the depth-dependent elastic and viscous closure
rates, and by the roughness of the walls, which enhances melt-out rates
that oppose moulin closure. We show that subglacial water pressure
across the ice sheet is likely influenced by moulin geometry,
underscoring the need for including moulins in subglacial models.