Influence of Melt Season Characteristics on Meltwater Partitioning and Delivery Into a Perennial Firn Aquifer
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Perennial firn aquifers in the Greenland ice sheet are known to form and persist in regions of sufficiently high melt rates and accumulation rates throughout the year. However, it is not clear how seasonal to sub‐seasonal variations in surface melt forcings affect the dynamics of melt recharge into a firn aquifer and the accompanying refreezing processes. Here, we use a hydrological model to probe how different styles of seasonal melting influence the recharge of a firn aquifer and the structural changes of the unsaturated firn column above. We find that a simple subsurface energy balance can provide a good estimation for melt partitioning, however our results suggest that the early dynamics of the melt season dictates the timing of recharge. Further, we show that an increased magnitude of melt in a single season leads to deeper refreezing, and that seasons with intermittent melt events can create ice lenses at depth.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2025gl119141
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, California Institute of Technology, Resnick Sustainability Institute for Science, Energy and Sustainability, California Institute of Technology, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W7125377282