Glaciological activities in the Johan Dahl Land area, South Greenland, as a basis for mapping hydropower potential

Abstract

Along the margin of the Inland Ice several basins have been proposed as possibie areas for hydropower production (ACG/VBB, 1975). ane of the most promising localities was (and still is) the Nordbosø basin in Johan Dahl Land, South Greenland. With a mean annual runoff from Nordbosø of 140 million m3 and a powerhead of 640 m, an annual production of approximately 200 GWh would result (ACG/VBB, 1980). In the Nordbosø basin Nordbogletscher is the main water source, as ablation from the glacier contributes with 60-70% of the annual runoff. An understanding of the glaciological conditions including mass balance, glacier dynamics, drainage of ice-dammed lakes, and climate-ablation relationships, is essential for the whole project. In a joint project with the Greenland Fisheries Investigations (environmental studies) and the Greenland Technical Organization (engineering and hydrological studies), GGU is responsibie for the glaciological work, and in the 1983 field season the glaciological investigations were continued for the sixth year. The project is supported by the Danish Ministry of Energy.