HR: 1330h
AN: C32A-0418    [PDF]
TI: Accumulation-Driven and Long-Term Elevation Change on the Southern Greenland Ice Sheet
AU: * McConnell, J R
EM: jmcconn@dri.edu
AF: Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89509 United States
AU: Arthern, R J
EM: rart@bas.ac.uk
AF: Physical Sciences Division, British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB30ET United Kingdom
AB: Understanding the past and current mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) is critical to predicting changes in sea level. Repeat altimetry surveys of ice sheet elevation change (dH/dt) from 1978 to 1988 and 1993/94 to 1998/99 suggest that the higher elevation parts (above 2000 m) of the southern ice sheet are in overall mass balance, with some regions observed to be thickening (gaining) and others thinning (losing). While there was general agreement in the observed spatial patterns between the two time periods, with thickening to the west of the ice sheet divide and thinning to the east in southern Greenland, significant differences in dH/dt were found. Ice sheet elevation change includes both long-term and short-term components and the short-term components likely mask repeat altimetry measurements primarily intended to monitor the long-term behavior of the ice sheet. Long-term changes in ice sheet elevation are caused by isostatic rebound and ice sheet dynamics. Short-term changes are driven by spatia
DE: 1655 Water cycles (1836)
DE: 1827 Glaciology (1863)
DE: 3344 Paleoclimatology
DE: 3349 Polar meteorology
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting