A recent study has revealed the presence of 37 subglacial lakes beneath glaciers in the Arctic region of Canada, with 35 of them being previously undiscovered. This discovery sheds light on a hidden water system that could enhance scientists’ understanding of glacier behavior and ice loss processes.
Understanding the locations of these lakes and how they fill and drain could significantly improve insights into the rate of glacier melting and subsequent sea level rise. The network of lakes forms a complex interconnected system of water bodies flowing beneath the ice, a phenomenon that has remained largely concealed until now.
The newly identified subglacial lakes are predominantly small in size, ranging from 0.3 to 15 square kilometers, and they typically fill up over several years. However, their drainage can occur relatively swiftly, sometimes within a span of a year or even a few months.
According to Wesley Van Wychen, a study co-author and associate professor at the University of Waterloo, in certain instances, rapid drainage of a subglacial lake has led to a glacier’s surface dropping by over 100 meters in just three to four months.
The source of water that fills these lakes remains uncertain, but Van Wychen suggests that it could originate from the glacier’s surface. Meltwater may seep through cracks and channels in the ice, eventually pooling in subglacial lakes.
Van Wychen raises the question of whether these lakes will experience more frequent filling and draining as temperatures rise in the Canadian Arctic. Understanding the water distribution beneath glaciers is crucial for anticipating potential changes in the region.
The acceleration of glacier melt in the Arctic due to climate change is a growing concern. Scientists believe that if water from these subglacial networks reaches the ocean, it could impact the rate of sea level rise.
Implications for Glacier Science
Van Wychen, whose research revolves around utilizing remote sensing techniques to analyze glaciers, collaborated with researchers from Taiwan, Japan, and the U.K. for this study.
The study relied on data provided by ArcticDEM, a project hosted by the University of Minnesota that offers high-resolution imagery of the Arctic, enabling researchers to scrutinize glacier changes in unprecedented detail.
By leveraging this data, researchers monitored variations in glacier surface elevation to infer the presence of subglacial lakes and track their drainage and refilling processes.
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Shawn Marshall, a research scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada not involved in the study,