Automatic detection of iceberg calving events using seismic observations

Abstract:

Iceberg calving at large, marine-terminating glaciers has been shown to be seismogenic. Seismic energy from these events is released slowly, resulting in characteristic low-frequency signals. The events therefore typically escape detection by traditional systematic methods. Here we show the results of a detection algorithm applied to data observed at two stations, both ~100 km from Helheim Glacier, South East Greenland, in 2007 and 2008 for the purpose of detecting calving-related seismic signals. The detector entails sliding a 150 s wide window over the observed vertical displacement seismograms at steps of one second. Relative power in the 1.1-3.3 s band is monitored, and the detector is activated when a pre-defined threshold is exceeded. We determine the threshold by calibrating the detector with a record of known events observed by time lapse cameras at Helheim Glacier and automatic detections of glacial earthquakes from the GSN (Global Seismic Network) stations. The resulting list of detections is then filtered for events overlapping with tectonic events, both local and global. We observe a clear periodicity in the detections, with most events occurring during the late summer and early fall, roughly coinciding with the end of the melt season. This apparent offset from peak melt intensity leads us to speculate that the pattern in calving is the result of a combination of the seasonal development of multiple physical properties of the glacier, i.e., surface crevassing, subglacial melt and crevassing, and the subglacial drainage system.