As a part of JSPS project "The role of ice dynamics in the rapid
retreat of calving glaciers", we visited three glaciers, Perito Moreno,
Upsala and Viedma, in the southern Patagonia Icefield from December
2012 to January 2013. GPS receivers were deployed to measure short
term ice speed variations and preliminary lake measurements were performed
in the lakes of the glaciers. To find a hot water drilling site for
the next season, reconnaissance helicopter flight was carried out over
the glaciers.
Glaciar Perito Moreno is the one on which Japanese research group has
been working for the last several decades. This glacier has shown no
significant retreat nor advance since the mid 20th century, being an
exception among many of rapidly retreating calving glaciers in
Patagonia. After the hot water
drilling project in 2010, we extended our study area several
kilometers upglacier. This upper reach of the glacier is one of the
possible drilling sites in 2012/13.
Glaciar Upsala is the third largest glacier in Patagonia and rapidly
retreating over the last several decades. Our satellite study revealed
the rates of retreat and thinning after 2008 were greatest ever
recorded for this glacier. This event was accompanied by significant
ice acceleration, suggesting the importance of ice dynamics in the
changes in calving glacier. Because of these observations, ice
dynamics and subglacial conditions are the most interesting subjects
for the project. Nevertheless, working on this glacier is not easy
because ablation area is entirely covered by crevasses and weather
conditions are very severe in this region. Drilling very thick ice
under the difficult conditions is a big challenge for us.
Glacier Viedma has a relatively narrow calving front, but has a large
catchment area in the upper reaches, forming the second largest
glacier in Patagonia. Despite its great importance in the icefield,
only a few research activities were reported on this glacier. Glacier
is steeply descending into Lago Viedma and thus deep crevasses are
covering the surface near the terminus. The current calving front
locates in a small bay, which is suitable to study the interaction of
ice and lakewater.
Here are several movies from the field campaign (link to YoutTube)
