Basin-scale partitioning of Greenland ice sheet mass balance components (2007-2011)

M.L. Andersen; Lars Stenseng; Henriette Skourup; W. Colgan; Shfaqat Abbas Khan; Steen Savstrup Kristensen; S. B. Andersen; J.E. Box; A. P. Ahlstrøm; X. Fettweis; René Forsberg

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2014.10.015

Basin-scale partitioning of Greenland ice sheet mass balance components (2007-2011)

M.L. Andersen, Lars Stenseng, Henriette Skourup, W. Colgan, Shfaqat Abbas Khan, Steen Savstrup Kristensen, S. B. Andersen, J.E. Box, A. P. Ahlstrøm, X. Fettweis, René Forsberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The current deficit in Greenland ice sheet mass balance is due to both a decrease in surface mass balance (SMB) input and an increase in ice discharge (D) output. While SMB processes are beginning to be well captured by observationally-constrained climate modeling, insight into D is relatively limited. We use InSAR-derived velocities, in combination with ice thickness observations, to quantify the mass flux (F) across a flux perimeter around the ice sheet at ~1700 m elevation. To quantify D, we correct F for SMB, as well as changes in volume due to ice dynamics, in the area downstream of the gate. Using a 1961-1990 reference climatology SMB field from the MAR regional climate model, we quantify ice sheet mass balance within eighteen basins. We find a 2007-2011 mean D of 515±57 Gtyr-1. We find a 2007-2011 mean total mass balance of -262±21 Gtyr-1, which is equal to a 0.73 mm yr-1 global sea level rise contribution. This mass loss is dominated by SMB, which accounts for 61% of mass loss in the basins where partitioning is possible.

Original language	English
Journal	Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume	409
Pages (from-to)	89-95
Number of pages	7
ISSN	0012-821X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.10.015
Publication status	Published - 2015

Keywords

Airborne survey
Flux gate
Greenland ice sheet
Ice discharge
Mass loss partition
Surface mass balance
Climate models
Glacial geology
Glaciers
Sea level
Surveys
Airborne surveys
Greenland Ice Sheet
Ice discharges
Mass loss
Ice

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.epsl.2014.10.015

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@article{e1205d0d6e8c45a894d8c69ed8aa7928,

title = "Basin-scale partitioning of Greenland ice sheet mass balance components (2007-2011)",

abstract = "The current deficit in Greenland ice sheet mass balance is due to both a decrease in surface mass balance (SMB) input and an increase in ice discharge (D) output. While SMB processes are beginning to be well captured by observationally-constrained climate modeling, insight into D is relatively limited. We use InSAR-derived velocities, in combination with ice thickness observations, to quantify the mass flux (F) across a flux perimeter around the ice sheet at ~1700 m elevation. To quantify D, we correct F for SMB, as well as changes in volume due to ice dynamics, in the area downstream of the gate. Using a 1961-1990 reference climatology SMB field from the MAR regional climate model, we quantify ice sheet mass balance within eighteen basins. We find a 2007-2011 mean D of 515±57 Gtyr-1. We find a 2007-2011 mean total mass balance of -262±21 Gtyr-1, which is equal to a 0.73 mm yr-1 global sea level rise contribution. This mass loss is dominated by SMB, which accounts for 61% of mass loss in the basins where partitioning is possible.",

keywords = "Airborne survey, Flux gate, Greenland ice sheet, Ice discharge, Mass loss partition, Surface mass balance, Climate models, Glacial geology, Glaciers, Sea level, Surveys, Airborne surveys, Greenland Ice Sheet, Ice discharges, Mass loss, Ice",

author = "M.L. Andersen and Lars Stenseng and Henriette Skourup and W. Colgan and Khan, {Shfaqat Abbas} and Kristensen, {Steen Savstrup} and Andersen, {S. B.} and J.E. Box and Ahlstr{\o}m, {A. P.} and X. Fettweis and Ren{\'e} Forsberg",

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doi = "10.1016/j.epsl.2014.10.015",

language = "English",

volume = "409",

pages = "89--95",

journal = "Earth and Planetary Science Letters",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Basin-scale partitioning of Greenland ice sheet mass balance components (2007-2011)

AU - Andersen, M.L.

AU - Stenseng, Lars

AU - Skourup, Henriette

AU - Colgan, W.

AU - Khan, Shfaqat Abbas

AU - Kristensen, Steen Savstrup

AU - Andersen, S. B.

AU - Box, J.E.

AU - Ahlstrøm, A. P.

AU - Fettweis, X.

AU - Forsberg, René

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - The current deficit in Greenland ice sheet mass balance is due to both a decrease in surface mass balance (SMB) input and an increase in ice discharge (D) output. While SMB processes are beginning to be well captured by observationally-constrained climate modeling, insight into D is relatively limited. We use InSAR-derived velocities, in combination with ice thickness observations, to quantify the mass flux (F) across a flux perimeter around the ice sheet at ~1700 m elevation. To quantify D, we correct F for SMB, as well as changes in volume due to ice dynamics, in the area downstream of the gate. Using a 1961-1990 reference climatology SMB field from the MAR regional climate model, we quantify ice sheet mass balance within eighteen basins. We find a 2007-2011 mean D of 515±57 Gtyr-1. We find a 2007-2011 mean total mass balance of -262±21 Gtyr-1, which is equal to a 0.73 mm yr-1 global sea level rise contribution. This mass loss is dominated by SMB, which accounts for 61% of mass loss in the basins where partitioning is possible.

AB - The current deficit in Greenland ice sheet mass balance is due to both a decrease in surface mass balance (SMB) input and an increase in ice discharge (D) output. While SMB processes are beginning to be well captured by observationally-constrained climate modeling, insight into D is relatively limited. We use InSAR-derived velocities, in combination with ice thickness observations, to quantify the mass flux (F) across a flux perimeter around the ice sheet at ~1700 m elevation. To quantify D, we correct F for SMB, as well as changes in volume due to ice dynamics, in the area downstream of the gate. Using a 1961-1990 reference climatology SMB field from the MAR regional climate model, we quantify ice sheet mass balance within eighteen basins. We find a 2007-2011 mean D of 515±57 Gtyr-1. We find a 2007-2011 mean total mass balance of -262±21 Gtyr-1, which is equal to a 0.73 mm yr-1 global sea level rise contribution. This mass loss is dominated by SMB, which accounts for 61% of mass loss in the basins where partitioning is possible.

KW - Airborne survey

KW - Flux gate

KW - Greenland ice sheet

KW - Ice discharge

KW - Mass loss partition

KW - Surface mass balance

KW - Climate models

KW - Glacial geology

KW - Glaciers

KW - Sea level

KW - Surveys

KW - Airborne surveys

KW - Greenland Ice Sheet

KW - Ice discharges

KW - Mass loss

KW - Ice

U2 - 10.1016/j.epsl.2014.10.015

DO - 10.1016/j.epsl.2014.10.015

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0012-821X

VL - 409

SP - 89

EP - 95

JO - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

JF - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

ER -

Basin-scale partitioning of Greenland ice sheet mass balance components (2007-2011)

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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