Linking Overturning, Recirculation, and Melt in Glacial Fjords

Fjord circulation modulates the connection between marine-terminating glaciers and ocean currents offshore. These fjords exhibit both overturning horizontal recirculations, which are driven by water mass transformation at head of fjord via subglacial discharge plumes distributed meltwater plumes. However, little is known about how various characteristics influence interaction 3D glacial melt. In this study, high-resolution numerical simulations idealized demonstrate that recirculation strength controls melt, feeds back on recirculation. The relationships overturning, recirculation, melt rate well predicted vorticity balance, reduced-order parameterizations, empirical scaling arguments. theories allow us to take into account near-glacier velocities, yield improved predictions