open discussion short comments

Abstract

Open discussion comments on Alexander et al. (2020) This very interesting study provides timeseries of subglacial channel temperatures and erosion under two cold based valley glaciers on Svalbard. It indicates a link between meteorological events at the surface and the yet poorly understood soft bed subglacial processes affecting glacier hydrology and potentially basal slip under cold based ice. The highlighted importance of extreme events is especially relevant in the context of understanding the effects of climatic change on Svalbard.