01664nas a2200217   4500008004100000022001400041024001300055245008400068210006900152490000700221520100800228653002101236653002201257653002301279100002201302700001801324700002301342700002001365700002101385856004001406       2013                        eng d  a1944-8007  aGRL5101100aRapid Submarine Melting Driven by Subglacial Discharge, LeConte Glacier, Alaska0 aRapid Submarine Melting Driven by Subglacial Discharge LeConte G0 v403 aWe show that subglacial freshwater discharge is the principal process driving high rates of submarine melting at tidewater glaciers. This buoyant discharge draws in warm seawater, entraining it in a turbulent upwelling flow along the submarine face that melts glacier ice. To capture the effects of subglacial discharge on submarine melting, we conducted 4 days of hydrographic transects during late summer 2012 at LeConte Glacier, Alaska. A major rainstorm allowed us to document the influence of large changes in subglacial discharge. We found strong submarine melt fluxes that increased from 9.1 ± 1.0 to 16.8 ± 1.3 m d−1 (ice face equivalent frontal ablation) as a result of the rainstorm. With projected continued global warming and increased glacial runoff, our results highlight the direct impact that increases in subglacial discharge will have on tidewater outlet systems. These effects must be considered when modeling glacier response to future warming and increased runoff.10afrontal ablation10asubmarine melting10atidewater glaciers1 aMotyka, Roman, J.1 aDryer, W., P.1 aAmundson, Jason, M1 aTruffer, Martin1 aFahnestock, Mark  uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1002/grl.51011