HR: 1340h
AN: C23A-1145    [Abstracts]
TI: Accumulation and Melt Variability at the Western Slope of the Greenland Ice Sheet at Swiss Camp: 1990 - 2005
AU: * Steffen, K
EM: konrad.steffen@colorado.edu
AF: University of Colorado, CIRES, Campus Box 216, Boulder, CO 80209 United States
AB: The Swiss Camp was established at the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) near Jakobshavn (~ 70° N), along the western slope of the Greenland ice sheet in spring 1990. Long-term glaciological measurements from the Danes predicted the ELA for this region. The elevation variability of the ELA will be discussed for the 1990 - 2005 time period. The surface slope of the ice sheet in this region is 1-2 degrees with large scale undulations (5 km wave length). The Swiss Camp was located in the accumulation regions during the first five years of the last decade, whereas in the later part of the 90's the camp was located at the ELA. The ELA moved to higher elevations during this decade due to increased melting. The fall-winter-spring accumulation variability and the summer melt will be discussed for the 15-year time record. The annual snow accumulation varied between 18 cm water equivalent (w.e.) to 75 cm w.e. during that period. Further, the sensitivity of albedo-feedback (snow fall events) on summer melt will be discussed based on in-situ data. Air temperature and accumulation records will be used to explain the variation of the ELA.
DE: 0726 Ice sheets
DE: 0736 Snow (1827, 1863)
DE: 1621 Cryospheric change (0776)
DE: 1635 Oceans (1616, 3305, 4215, 4513)
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005