Greenland ice-margin programme, a pilot study at Pâkitsoq, north-east of Jakobshavn, central West Greenland

Abstract

A glaciological field programme was carried out from 24 July to 21 August 1988 on the Greenland ice-sheet margin at Pakitsoq, north-east of Ilulissat/Jakobshavn, West Greenland. Glaciological investigations for planning hydropower at Pakitsoq have been made by GGU since 1982. The investigations include six years of mass-balance measurements, repeated photogrammetric and satellite mapping, ice-thickness mapping by radio-echo sounding, stable-isotope studies, hot-water-jet drillings and measurements of ice velocity and englacial temperatures (Thomsen, 1986, 1988; Thorning & Hansen, 1987; Olesen & Clausen, 1988). Simulations of runoff, glacier dynamics and glacier hydraulics are also carried out (Reeh, 1983; Thomsen et al., 1988). The aim of the 1988 field programme was to extend and confirm assumptions in the previous work.