Xeitl Sit’ (LeConte Glacier) Alaska Glacier Ice-Ocean Research

Recent published papers and presentations at Ocean Sciences 2026

Nash et al 2026 Ocean Sciences Poster 

Nash presents a synthesis of our recent results in the context of the glacier ice-melt parameterization

Papers in Press or Preparation

we will add preprint links as they are submitted

Cohen*, Wengrove, Nash, et al “Characterizing submarine ice roughness at icebergs from a temperate tidewater glacier.” in press in Journal of Glaciology.

Weiss*, Nash, Wengrove et al. “Melt rate and the turbulent boundary layer at a marine-terminating glacier”. in prep for Geophysical Research Letters

Pettit, Nash, Wengrove, Zhao et al “Sculpted by melt: deep grooves in glacier ice reveal melt-morphology feedback” in prep for Geophysical Research Letters.

Nash, Pettit, Jackson, Shaya et al. The resonating ocean as a natural amplifier for glacier melt, calving and retreat. in prep for Geophysical Research Letters

Nash Pettit, Wengrove, et al Sediment and diffusive sublayers: can a rain of particles dramatically alter patterns of glacier ice melt? - In prep for Geophysical Research Letters.

Troyer*, Pettit, et al. “The importance of surface ablation for sediment delivery as a control on the tidewater glacier cycle in a changing climate”. Journal of Glaciology.

*identifies papers led by students

Weiss*, Kaelan J., Jonathan D. Nash, Meagan E. Wengrove, Noah Osman, Nadia F. Cohen, Rebecca H. Jackson, Erin C. Pettit, Ken X. Zhao, Jasmine S. Nahorniak, and David A. Sutherland. "Direct measurement of glacier ice melt: Boundary layer details are critical for submarine melt prediction at near‐vertical ice faces." Geophysical Research Letters 52, no. 11 (2025): e2025GL114952.

Troyer*, K. Sensitivity of a tidewater glacier to physical processes and application to Xeitl S´ıt’(LeConte Glacier). Oregon State University Undergraduate Thesis. (2025)

2024

Nash, Jonathan D., Kaelan Weiss, Meagan E. Wengrove, Noah Osman, Erin C. Pettit, Ken Zhao, Rebecca H. Jackson et al. "Turbulent dynamics of buoyant melt plumes adjacent near‐vertical glacier ice." Geophysical Research Letters 51, no. 9 (2024): e2024GL108790.

2023

Wengrove, Meagan E., Erin C. Pettit, Jonathan D. Nash, Rebecca H. Jackson, and Eric D. Skyllingstad. "Melting of glacier ice enhanced by bursting air bubbles." Nature Geoscience 16, no. 10 (2023): 871-876.

Cusack, Jesse M., Rebecca H. Jackson, Jonathan D. Nash, Eric Skyllingstad, Erin C. Pettit, David A. Sutherland, Roman J. Motyka, and Jason M. Amundson. "Internal gravity waves generated by subglacial discharge: Implications for tidewater glacier melt." Geophysical Research Letters 50, no. 12 (2023): e2022GL102426.

Abib*, Nicole, David A. Sutherland, Jason M. Amundson, Dan Duncan, Emily F. Eidam, Rebecca H. Jackson, Christian Kienholz et al. "Persistent overcut regions dominate the terminus morphology of a rapidly melting tidewater glacier." Annals of Glaciology 64, no. 90 (2023): 1-12.

2022

Jackson, Rebecca H., Roman J. Motyka, Jason M. Amundson, Nicole Abib, David A. Sutherland, Jonathan D. Nash, and Christian Kienholz. "The relationship between submarine melt and subglacial discharge from observations at a tidewater glacier." Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 127, no. 10 (2022): e2021JC018204.

2020

Jackson, R. H., J. D. Nash, C. Kienholz, D. A. Sutherland, J. M. Amundson, R. J. Motyka, D. Winters, E. Skyllingstad, and E. C. Pettit. "Meltwater intrusions reveal mechanisms for rapid submarine melt at a tidewater glacier." Geophysical Research Letters 47, no. 2 (2020): e2019GL085335.

Amundson, Jason M., Christian Kienholz, Alexander O. Hager, Rebecca H. Jackson, Roman J. Motyka, Jonathan D. Nash, and David A. Sutherland. "Formation, flow and break-up of ephemeral ice mélange at LeConte Glacier and Bay, Alaska." Journal of Glaciology 66, no. 258 (2020): 577-590.

2019

Sutherland, D. A., Rebecca H. Jackson, Christian Kienholz, Jason M. Amundson, W. P. Dryer, Dan Duncan, E. F. Eidam, R. J. Motyka, and J. D. Nash. "Direct observations of submarine melt and subsurface geometry at a tidewater glacier." Science 365, no. 6451 (2019): 369-374.

Keinholz

Motyka, Roman J., William P. Dryer, Jason Amundson, Martin Truffer, and Mark Fahnestock. "Rapid submarine melting driven by subglacial discharge, LeConte Glacier, Alaska." Geophysical Research Letters 40, no. 19 (2013): 5153-5158.

Motyka, Roman J., Lewis Hunter, Keith A. Echelmeyer, and Cathy Connor. "Submarine melting at the terminus of a temperate tidewater glacier, LeConte Glacier, Alaska, USA." Annals of Glaciology 36 (2003): 57-65.