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

• Main Authors: M L Andersen, L Stenseng, H Skourup, W Colgan, S A Khan, S S Kristensen, S B Andersen, J E Box, A P Ahlstrøm, X Fettweis, R Forsberg
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Greenland; Shearer; The Gate; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1049.7461; http://www.williamcolgan.net/pubs/S0012821X14006360.pdf

Available online xxxx Editor: P. Shearer Keywords: Greenland ice sheet surface mass balance ice discharge airborne survey flux gate mass loss partition 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 Gt yr −1 . We find a 2007-2011 mean total mass balance of −262 ± 21 Gt yr −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.