The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet
We present the seasonal cycle and interannual variability of the surface energy balance (SEB) in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet, using seven years (September 2003–August 2010) of hourly observations from three automatic weather stations (AWS). The AWS are situated along the 67° N...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:d83bbb3ebb3d492ca1b1b2df7f56b825 2023-05-15T16:28:23+02:00 The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet M. R. van den Broeke C. J. P. P. Smeets R. S. W. van de Wal 2011-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-377-2011 https://doaj.org/article/d83bbb3ebb3d492ca1b1b2df7f56b825 EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/377/2011/tc-5-377-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-5-377-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/d83bbb3ebb3d492ca1b1b2df7f56b825 The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 2, Pp 377-390 (2011) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2011 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-377-2011 2022-12-31T00:26:19Z We present the seasonal cycle and interannual variability of the surface energy balance (SEB) in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet, using seven years (September 2003–August 2010) of hourly observations from three automatic weather stations (AWS). The AWS are situated along the 67° N latitude circle at elevations of 490 m a.s.l. (S5), 1020 m a.s.l. (S6) and 1520 m a.s.l. (S9) at distances of 6, 38 and 88 km from the ice sheet margin. The hourly AWS data are fed into a model that calculates all SEB components and melt rate; the model allows for shortwave radiation penetration in ice and time-varying surface momentum roughness. Snow depth is prescribed from albedo and sonic height ranger observations. Modelled and observed surface temperatures for non-melting conditions agree very well, with RMSE's of 0.97–1.26 K. Modelled and observed ice melt rates at the two lowest sites also show very good agreement, both for total cumulative and 10-day cumulated amounts. Melt frequencies and melt rates at the AWS sites are discussed. Although absorbed shortwave radiation is the most important energy source for melt at all three sites, interannual melt variability at the lowest site is driven mainly by variability in the turbulent flux of sensible heat. This is explained by the quasi-constant summer albedo in the lower ablation zone, limiting the influence of the melt-albedo feedback, and the proximity of the snow free tundra, which heats up considerably in summer. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere Tundra Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Greenland The Cryosphere 5 2 377 390 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 M. R. van den Broeke C. J. P. P. Smeets R. S. W. van de Wal The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
We present the seasonal cycle and interannual variability of the surface energy balance (SEB) in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet, using seven years (September 2003–August 2010) of hourly observations from three automatic weather stations (AWS). The AWS are situated along the 67° N latitude circle at elevations of 490 m a.s.l. (S5), 1020 m a.s.l. (S6) and 1520 m a.s.l. (S9) at distances of 6, 38 and 88 km from the ice sheet margin. The hourly AWS data are fed into a model that calculates all SEB components and melt rate; the model allows for shortwave radiation penetration in ice and time-varying surface momentum roughness. Snow depth is prescribed from albedo and sonic height ranger observations. Modelled and observed surface temperatures for non-melting conditions agree very well, with RMSE's of 0.97–1.26 K. Modelled and observed ice melt rates at the two lowest sites also show very good agreement, both for total cumulative and 10-day cumulated amounts. Melt frequencies and melt rates at the AWS sites are discussed. Although absorbed shortwave radiation is the most important energy source for melt at all three sites, interannual melt variability at the lowest site is driven mainly by variability in the turbulent flux of sensible heat. This is explained by the quasi-constant summer albedo in the lower ablation zone, limiting the influence of the melt-albedo feedback, and the proximity of the snow free tundra, which heats up considerably in summer. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
M. R. van den Broeke C. J. P. P. Smeets R. S. W. van de Wal |
author_facet |
M. R. van den Broeke C. J. P. P. Smeets R. S. W. van de Wal |
author_sort |
M. R. van den Broeke |
title |
The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet |
title_short |
The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet |
title_full |
The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet |
title_fullStr |
The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet |
title_full_unstemmed |
The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet |
title_sort |
seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west greenland ice sheet |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-377-2011 https://doaj.org/article/d83bbb3ebb3d492ca1b1b2df7f56b825 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere Tundra |
genre_facet |
Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere Tundra |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 2, Pp 377-390 (2011) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/377/2011/tc-5-377-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-5-377-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/d83bbb3ebb3d492ca1b1b2df7f56b825 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-377-2011 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
377 |
op_container_end_page |
390 |
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1766018020008787968 |