“…In turn, these models require validation from in situ observations at the ice sheet surface (Ettema et al, 2010a, b). Owing to the difficult terrain in the GrIS ablation zone with crevasses, slush formation and the presence of meltwater lakes (Box and Ski, 2007), only a few SEB time series are available to date (Ambach, 1977;Greuell and Konzelmann, 1994;Oerlemans and Vugts, 1993;Henneken et al, 1994;Van de Wal and Russell, 1994;Bøggild et al, 1994;Konzelmann and Braithwaite, 1995;Heinemann, 1999). Most experiments lasted only for (part of) a single ablation season, neither capturing the wintertime climate nor the interannual variability.…”