A simple parameterization for ice sheet ablation rate

• Published in: Tellus
• Main Author: Pollard, David
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Munskgaard 1980
• Subjects: Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2153-3490.1980.tb00965.x

A parameterization of monthly mean ice sheet ablation as a function only of surface air temperature and insolation is examined. By considering differences in summer climate between the present and the last ice age, it is suggested that the parameterization adequately describes long-term changes in ablation. Although significant discrepancies are found between the parameterization and the seasonal variation of ablation observed on present-day glaciers, the seasonal ablation cycle is still predicted accurately enough to maintain the validity of the parameterization for long-term net annual variations. This journal is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0) License. (Manuscript received January 8, 1980) Contribution number 3374 of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 9 1 125, U.S.A. Published - j.2153-3490.1980.tb00965.x.pdf