Characteristics of the Antarctic surface mass balance, 1958–2002, using a regional atmospheric climate model

Berg, Willem Jan van de; Broeke, M.R. van den; Reijmer, C. H.; Meijgaard, E. van

doi:10.3189/172756405781813302

Cited by 93 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…2b) for the period 1989-2009. Before 1980, re-analysis products are unreliable in the SH, and no SMB estimates are available for the AIS prior to that year ( Van de Berg et al 2005), while no accurate discharge observations are currently available before 1992 (Rignot et al 2011). The SMB of the AIS does not show a significant trend, in line with earlier studies (Monaghan et al 2006).…”

Section: Application Of the Mass Budget Methods To The Ais And Grissupporting

confidence: 77%

“…This requires a firn densification model forced by high-resolution (in time and space) atmospheric re-analyses, which can only be done for the period with reliable atmospheric forcing data, i.e. after 1978 in Greenland and 1980 in Antarctica ( Van de Berg et al 2005). This excludes an assessment of the role of longer time scale variations in snowfall, which are known to exist.…”

Section: Satellite Altimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ice Sheets and Sea Level: Thinking Outside the Box

et al. 2011

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Until quite recently, the mass balance (MB) of the great ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica was poorly known and often treated as a residual in the budget of oceanic mass and sea level change. Recent developments in regional climate modelling and remote sensing, especially altimetry, gravimetry and InSAR feature tracking, have enabled us to specifically resolve the ice sheet mass balance components at a near-annual timescale. The results reveal significant mass losses for both ice sheets, caused by the acceleration of marine-terminating glaciers in southeast, west and northwest Greenland and coastal West Antarctica, and increased run-off in Greenland. At the same time, the data show that interannual variability is very significant, masking the underlying trends.

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Section: Application Of the Mass Budget Methods To The Ais And Grissupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Satellite Altimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ice Sheets and Sea Level: Thinking Outside the Box

et al. 2011

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“…Despite three of the studies employing the same data set and the rapid, unambiguous thinning of some coastal glaciers in West Antarctica [6,13], there is clearly no consensus over the contribution of the AIS to global sea level change. Although the three elevation change studies suggest that the mass of the EAIS increases (Table 1), other work based on ice cores and regional climate modelling indicates no significant increase in Antarctic precipitation over the last 25-50 years [14][15][16]. Results of studies 1-3 are also in conflict with recent (and particularly since 1999) sea level rise and ocean freshening trends [17].…”

Section: Introductioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Towards quantifying the contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet to global sea level change

Broeke

2006

J. Phys. IV France

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Abstract. At present, the mass balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) and its contribution to global sea level change are poorly known. Current methods to determine AIS mass balance as well as the inherent uncertainties are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the increasingly important role of regional atmospheric climate models, which can reduce the uncertainties in surface accumulation, the correction for the firn layer depth and density in ice thickness calculations and moreover help in interpreting surface elevation changes in terms of accumulation and firn density variability. Some recent advances in these fields of research are presented.

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“…We believe arguments to attribute elevation change to changes in firn thickness on the basis of shortterm trends in surface balance (e.g. on basins JJ 0 and H-J; W'06) might have regional relevance, but overall there is no statistically significant trend for Antarctica as a whole either in the P-E products covering 1958-2002(van de Berg et al 2005 or in the field data collated for large areas since the 1950s (Monaghan et al 2006a).…”

Section: Assessment Of Mass Balance Estimates From Ers Altimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Monaghan et al 2006b;W06). There is no significant trend in the P-E statistic, in part due to the short series used (van den Berg et al 2005). Clearly, in budget estimates based on the IOM the choice of model product determining the input is the principal consideration determining the result.…”

Section: Appendixmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview and Assessment of Antarctic Ice-Sheet Mass Balance Estimates: 1992–2009

Zwally¹,

Giovinetto²

2011

The Earth's Cryosphere and Sea Level Change

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Mass balance estimates for the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) in the 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and in more recent reports lie between approximately ?50 to -250 Gt/year for 1992 to 2009. The 300 Gt/year range is approximately 15% of the annual mass input and 0.8 mm/year Sea Level Equivalent (SLE). Two estimates from radar altimeter measurements of elevation change by European Remote-sensing Satellites (ERS) (?28 and -31 Gt/year) lie in the upper part, whereas estimates from the Input-minus-Output Method (IOM) and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) lie in the lower part (-40 to -246 Gt/year). We compare the various estimates, discuss the methodology used, and critically assess the results. We also modify the IOM estimate using (1) an alternate extrapolation to estimate the discharge from the non-observed 15% of the periphery, and (2) substitution of input from a field data compilation for input from an atmospheric model in 6% of area. The modified IOM estimate reduces the loss from 136 Gt/year to 13 Gt/year. Two ERS-based estimates, the modified IOM, and a GRACE-based estimate for observations within 1992-2005 lie in a narrowed range of ?27 to -40 Gt/year, which is about 3% of the annual mass input and only 0.2 mm/year SLE. Our preferred estimate for 1992-2001 is -47 Gt/year for West Antarctica, ?16 Gt/year for East Antarctica, and -31 Gt/year overall (?0.1 mm/year SLE), not including part of the Antarctic Peninsula (1.07% of the AIS area). Although recent reports of large and increasing rates of mass loss with time from GRACE-based studies cite agreement with IOM results, our evaluation does not support that conclusion.

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Characteristics of the Antarctic surface mass balance, 1958–2002, using a regional atmospheric climate model

Cited by 93 publications

References 30 publications

Ice Sheets and Sea Level: Thinking Outside the Box

Ice Sheets and Sea Level: Thinking Outside the Box

Towards quantifying the contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet to global sea level change

Overview and Assessment of Antarctic Ice-Sheet Mass Balance Estimates: 1992–2009

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