Recurring Jökulhlaups in Sälka, Northern Sweden |
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| Authors: | Per Klingbjer |
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| Institution: | Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | An ice‐dammed lake at the margin of the glacier Sälkaglaciären, in the Kebnekaise Mountains in northern Sweden, drained suddenly in July 2003 producing a flood with a measured peak discharge of 9.5±0.25 m3s‐1. The total lake volume of 4.55×105 million3 drained within two days. The hydrograph of this event is characteristic of a jökulhlaup controlled by a single basal ice tunnel that enlarges due to melting. The jökulhlaup had an exponential rise to a peak discharge, and following the peak, a very steep fall in discharge as the water supply to the drainage system ceased. A similar jökulhlaup was observed in August 1990 with an estimated release of 8.05×105 m3 water. Jökulhlaups at Sälkaglaciären are recurring events and have been indirectly observed since the 1950s. |
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| Keywords: | Outburst flood jökulhlaup glacier ice-dammed lake peak-discharge hydrograph polythermal glacier northern Sweden |
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