Ice-shelf elevation changes due to atmospheric pressure variations

The inverse barometer effect (IBE) is the isostatic response of ocean surface height to changes in atmospheric pressure (Pair) at a rate of about 1 cm hPa-1. The IBE is a significant contributor to variability of ice-shelf surface elevation (ice), as we demonstrate with simultaneous global positioni...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Padman, L, King, MA, Goring, D, Corr, H, Coleman, R
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: International Glaciology Society 2004
Subjects:
Earth Sciences
Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
Glaciology
Amery
Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctica
Ice Shelf
Ice Shelves
Journal of Glaciology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3189/172756503781830386
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/34079
Description
Summary:The inverse barometer effect (IBE) is the isostatic response of ocean surface height to changes in atmospheric pressure (Pair) at a rate of about 1 cm hPa-1. The IBE is a significant contributor to variability of ice-shelf surface elevation (ice), as we demonstrate with simultaneous global positioning system measurements of ice and local measurements of Pair from the Amery, Brunt and Ross Ice Shelves, Antarctica. We find that an IBE correction is justified for frequencies () covering the "weather band", 0.03 < < 0.5 cpd (cycles per day). The IBE correction reduces the standard deviation of the weather-band signal of ice from 9 cm to 3 cm. With this correction, the largest remaining high-frequency error signal in ice is the inaccuracy of the present generation of Antarctic tide models, estimated to be of order 10 cm for most of Antarctica.

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