Probability of Firn Aquifer Presence in Antarctica by Combining Remote Sensing and Regional Climate Model Data

• Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
• Main Authors: V. Di Biase, P. Kuipers Munneke, S. B. M. Veldhuijsen, S. deRoda Husman, M. R. van denBroeke, B. Noël, L. G. Buth, B. Wouters
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2024
• Subjects: Antarctica; Monte Carlo technique; remote sensing; regional modeling; ice shelves; Geophysics. Cosmic physics; QC801-809; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Greenland; Ice Sheet; Ice Shelves
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL109367; https://doaj.org/article/6ba20cdbb7ba41f38457499aec456da5

Abstract Despite in‐situ observations of perennial firn aquifers (PFAs) at specific locations of the Antarctic ice sheet, a comprehensive continent‐wide mapping of PFA distribution is currently lacking. We present an estimate of their distribution across Antarctica in the form of a probability assessment using a Monte Carlo technique. Our approach involves a novel methodology that combines observations from Sentinel‐1 and Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) with output from a regional climate model. To evaluate our method, we conduct an extensive comparison with Operation Ice Bridge observations from the Greenland Ice Sheet. Application to Antarctica reveals high PFA probabilities in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP), particularly along its northern, northwestern, and western coastlines, as well as on the Wilkins, Müller, and George VI ice shelves. Outside the AP, PFA probability is low, except for some locations with marginally higher probabilities, such as on the Abbot, Totten, and Shackleton ice shelves.