Anomalous Circulation in July 2019 Resulting in Mass Loss on the Greenland Ice Sheet ...

• Main Authors: Cullather, Richard I., Andrews, Lauren C., Croteau, Michael J., Digirolamo, Nicolo E., Hall, Dorothy K., Lim, Young-Kwon, Loomis, Bryant D., Shuman, Christopher, Nowicki, Sophie M. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AGU 2020
• Subjects: Greenland; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.13016/m29vx7-q1bo; https://mdsoar.org/handle/11603/24271

Current mass loss on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) includes a significant contribution fromsurface runoff. The circumstances associated with melt events are important for understanding the globalsea level contribution of the GrIS. In late July 2019, surface melt occurred over 62% of the GrIS, includingSummit Station. The general circulation leading to the event is found to be dissimilar to 2012 and otherevents documented in the 21st century, with warm air associated with remote atmospheric blocking overwestern Europe eventually transiting west to the GrIS. Gravimetric data indicate that the 2019 summer massloss was 137 Gt more than the 2004–2010 median, or about 92% of the 2012 record. Mass loss during theevent was significant in GrIS northeastern regions in 2019. As compared to 2012, the southwest did not fullyparticipate. Similar circulation patterns have not previously been associated with significant melt. ...