Partititioning Recent Greenland Mass Loss

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http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI15062074/00001

Material Information

Title:

Partititioning Recent Greenland Mass Loss

Series Title:

Science Magazine Volume 326 Issue 984

Creator:

van den Broeke, Michiel
Bamber, Jonathan
Ettema, Janneke
Rignot, Eric
Schrama, Ernst
van de Berg, Willem Jan
van Meijgaard, Erik
Velicogna, Isabella
Wouters, Bert

Publisher:

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Publication Date:

2009

Language:

English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:

Climate Change ( lcsh )
Greenland ( lcsh )
Ice Sheets ( lcsh )

Notes

Abstract:

Mass budget calculations, validated with satellite gravity observations [from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites], enable us to quantify the individual components of recent Greenland mass loss. The total 2000–2008 mass loss of ~1500 gigatons, equivalent to 0.46 millimeters per year of global sea level rise, is equally split between surface processe (runoff and precipitation) and ice dynamics. Without the moderating effects of increased snowfall and refreezing, post-1996 Greenland ice sheet mass losses would have been 100% higher. Since 2006, high summer melt rates have increased Greenland ice sheet mass loss to 273 gigatons per year (0.75 millimeters per year of equivalent sea level rise). The seasonal cycle in surface mass balance fully accounts for detrended GRACE mass variations, confirming insignificant subannual variation in ice sheet discharge. ( English )

Record Information

Source Institution:

Florida International University

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Aggregations:

Sea Level Rise