Rapid Changes in Ice Discharge from Greenland Outlet Glaciers

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Howat, Ian M., Joughin, Ian, Scambos, Ted A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2007
• Subjects: glacier; Greenland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1138478; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1138478

Using satellite-derived surface elevation and velocity data, we found major short-term variations in recent ice discharge and mass loss at two of Greenland's largest outlet glaciers. Their combined rate of mass loss doubled in less than a year in 2004 and then decreased in 2006 to near the previous rates, likely as a result of fast re-equilibration of calving-front geometry after retreat. Total mass loss is a fraction of concurrent gravity-derived estimates, pointing to an alternative source of loss and the need for high-resolution observations of outlet dynamics and glacier geometry for sea-level rise predictions.