Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

6412

Date

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Earth Sciences

Concentration

Geophysics

Committee Member

Robert Smalley, Jr.

Committee Member

Charles Langston

Committee Member

Eric Daub

Abstract

We use two continuous GPS stations located on Thwaites glacier to estimate the rate of snow accumulation through GPS interferometric reflectometry and separately examine details of the motions of the glacier. We find an 8-year snow accumulation rate in meters water equivalent for the station Upper Thwaites of 0.44±0.03 m.w.e./yr and a 7-year rate for the station Lower Thwaites of 0.56±0.06 m.w.e./yr. Averages at both GPS sites match the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis accumulation rate, derived from integrated snowfall over the same period. We used precise point positioning to obtain daily station positions and modeled the observed movement of the glacier towards the Amundsen Sea using a constant acceleration and periodic fluctuations about this background motion. Lower Thwaites exhibits statistically significant deviations from this model that may be related to emptying and refilling of a nearby subglacial lake.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Download

Share

COinS