A Major Calving Event of Jakobshavns Isbræ, West Greenland, on 9 August 1982

Abstract

Abstract On 9 August 1982, the calving of a large ice mass, approximately 0.3 km x 1.5 km in size, from Jakobshavns Isbræ was filmed. The event, which took place as the tide was rising, is described by means of picture sequences from the ciné film. First, a large transverse crevasse opened in the glacier. The subsequently detached piece then split into large blocks which toppled forward one after the other in the direction of the fjord, so that finally large, clean ice slabs lay in front of the glacier terminus. The tilting ice blocks pushed the whole mass of fjord water, together with the ice debris which floated on it, in the direction of the sea. The tilting processes had terminated after approximately 8 min. Then a wave which had been reflected farther out in the fjord returned to the break-off zone, where it caused the formation of a large amount of ice debris and high jets of water.