Impact of model resolution on simulated wind, drifting snow and surface mass balance in Terre Adelie, East Antarctica

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Lenaerts, J. T. M., van den Broeke, Michiel R., Scarchilli, Claudio, Agosta, Cécile
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: International Glaciological Society 2012
• Subjects: Physical; chemical; mathematical & earth Sciences; Earth sciences & physical geography; Physique; chimie; mathématiques & sciences de la terre; Sciences de la terre & géographie physique; East Antarctica; Victoria Land; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/143905; https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/143905/1/2012%20Lenaerts-1.pdf; https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG12J020

peer reviewed This paper presents the impact of model resolution on the simulated wind speed, drifting snow climate and surface mass balance (SMB) of Terre Ade ́lie and its surroundings, East Antarctica. We compare regional climate model simulations at 27 and 5.5 km resolution for the year 2009. The wind speed maxima in Terre Ade ́lie and the narrow glacial valleys of Victoria Land are better represented at 5.5 km resolution, because the topography is better resolved. Drifting snow sublimation is >100 mm a−1 in regions with high wind speeds. Our results indicate a strong feedback between topography, wind gradients and drifting snow erosion. As a result, SMB shows much more local spatial variability at 5.5 km resolution that is controlled by drifting snow erosion, whereas the large-scale SMB gradient is largely determined by precipitation. Drifting snow processes lead to ablation in the narrow glacial valleys of Victoria Land. The integrated SMB equals 86 Gt. Although wind climate, drifting snow processes and SMB variability are better represented at 5.5 km, the area-integrated SMB is not significantly different between the simulations at 27 and 5.5 km. A horizontal resolution of 27 km is sufficient to realistically simulate ice-sheet wide SMB.