Modelling the Geomorphology and Hydrology of Supraglacial Meltwater Channels

Supraglacial channels are a primary pathway for transporting surface meltwater across ice sheets and ice shelves, and their geomorphology plays a key role in controlling meltwater routing. Meltwater commonly drains into supra- and subglacial features, where it can influence ice dynamics and mass loss. As surface melt rates increase under a warming climate, accurately constraining meltwater inputs to these systems becomes increasingly important.

While previous studies have modelled supraglacial channel evolution, few have explicitly accounted for the effects of solar radiation and spatially variable shear stresses on channel geometry. Here, we present a numerical model that simulates the temporal evolution of a supraglacial channel cross-section, incorporating atmospheric and radiative forcing, as well as hydraulic processes. Sensitivity analyses reveal that water temperature is a dominant control on channel incision, even for small variations in temperature. Additional simulations explore how water temperature evolves along the length of a channel and its implications for melt-driven erosion.

By explicitly resolving water temperature and energy exchange, this work provides a more complete description of supraglacial channel geomorphology. These results can be combined with field observations to improve estimates of meltwater routing and drainage volumes, with implications for surface hydrology modelling and ice-sheet mass-loss projections.