The 1958–2009 Greenland ice sheet surface melt and the mid-tropospheric atmospheric circulation

Fettweis, Xavier; Mabille, Georges; Erpicum, Michel; Nicolay, Samuel; Broeke, Michiel van den

doi:10.1007/s00382-010-0772-8

Cited by 81 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…To evaluate the relationship between this variability and the moisture supply generated from each source of moisture, we identified different circulation types (CTCs) over the areas of interest using a methodology developed by Fettweis et al (2011). This approach consists of an automated circulation type classification based on a correlation analysis whereby atmospheric circulation is categorised into a convenient number of four discrete circulation types in the present study.…”

Section: Identification Of Circulation Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At a daily scale, changes in intensity are negligible, but changes in circulation may be significant. Thus, to analyse whether there are important differences in MTP from sources to sinks associated with different circulation patterns, and how such differences could affect MTP in the AR, we grouped individual days into four circulation types using the methodology developed by Fettweis et al (2011) and explained in Sect. 2.…”

Section: Moisture Transport After and Before Arctic Sea Ice Change Pomentioning

confidence: 99%

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A new pattern of the moisture transport for precipitation related to the drastic decline in Arctic sea ice extent

2018

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Abstract. In this study we use the term moisture transport for precipitation for a target region as the moisture coming to this region from its major moisture sources resulting in precipitation over the target region (MTP). We have identified changes in the pattern of moisture transport for precipitation over the Arctic region, the Arctic Ocean, and its 13 main subdomains concurrent with the major sea ice decline that occurred in 2003. The pattern consists of a general decrease in moisture transport in summer and enhanced moisture transport in autumn and early winter, with different contributions depending on the moisture source and ocean subregion. The pattern is statistically significant and consistent with changes in the vertically integrated moisture fluxes and frequency of circulation types. The results of this paper also reveal that the assumed and partially documented enhanced poleward moisture transport from lower latitudes as a consequence of increased moisture from climate change seems to be less simple and constant than typically recognised in relation to enhanced Arctic precipitation throughout the year in the present climate.

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Section: Identification Of Circulation Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Moisture Transport After and Before Arctic Sea Ice Change Pomentioning

confidence: 99%

A new pattern of the moisture transport for precipitation related to the drastic decline in Arctic sea ice extent

2018

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“…In the absence of detailed observations, estimating melt and runoff from the GrIS requires the use of a regional atmospheric model that solves the full surface energy balance (SEB) at high spatial resolution (Fettweis, 2007;Ettema et al, 2009;Fettweis et al, 2010). In turn, these models require validation from in situ observations at the ice sheet surface (Ettema et al, 2010a, b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet

2011

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Abstract. We present the seasonal cycle and interannual variability of the surface energy balance (SEB) in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet, using seven years (S9) at distances of 6, 38 and 88 km from the ice sheet margin. The hourly AWS data are fed into a model that calculates all SEB components and melt rate; the model allows for shortwave radiation penetration in ice and time-varying surface momentum roughness. Snow depth is prescribed from albedo and sonic height ranger observations. Modelled and observed surface temperatures for non-melting conditions agree very well, with RMSE's of 0.97-1.26 K. Modelled and observed ice melt rates at the two lowest sites also show very good agreement, both for total cumulative and 10-day cumulated amounts. Melt frequencies and melt rates at the AWS sites are discussed. Although absorbed shortwave radiation is the most important energy source for melt at all three sites, interannual melt variability at the lowest site is driven mainly by variability in the turbulent flux of sensible heat. This is explained by the quasi-constant summer albedo in the lower ablation zone, limiting the influence of the melt-albedo feedback, and the proximity of the snow free tundra, which heats up considerably in summer.Correspondence to: M. R. van den Broeke (m.r.vandenbroeke@uu.nl)

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“…It is known that the atmospheric circulation over Greenland in summer influences the total melting [Fettweis et al, 2011. The fact, that the winter circulation can influence the ice sheet later in the year, has not previously been…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In peak summer, winds over Greenland are weaker compared to winter, fall and spring, and inland the radiative fluxes are more important than the turbulent heat fluxes [Serreze and Barry, 2005]. Yet, even the summer temperature over Greenland is strongly linked to the atmospheric circulation [Fettweis et al, 2011, Overland et al, 2012, Fettweis et al, 2013 and extremely warm summers have been associated with preceding warm air advection over the ice sheet [Box et al, 2012, Hanna et al, 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong wind events across Greenland�s coast and their influence on the ice sheet, sea ice and ocean

Oltmanns¹

2015

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In winter, Greenland's coastline adjacent to the subpolar North Atlantic and Nordic Seas is characterized by a large land-sea temperature contrast. Therefore, winds across the coast advect air across a horizontal temperature gradient and can result in significant surface heat fluxes both over the ice sheet (during onshore winds) and over the ocean (during offshore winds). Despite their importance, these winds have not been investigated in detail, and this thesis includes the first comprehensive study of their characteristics, dynamics and impacts. Using an atmospheric reanalysis, observations from local weather stations, and remote sensing data, it is suggested that high-speed wind events across the coast are triggered by the superposition of an upper level potential vorticity anomaly on a stationary topographic Rossby wave over Greenland, and that they intensify through baroclinic instability. Onshore winds across Greenland's coast can result in increased melting, and offshore winds drive large heat losses over major ocean convection sites.Strong offshore winds across the southeast coast are unique over Greenland, because the flow is funneled from the vast ice sheet inland into the narrow valley of Ammassalik at the coast, where it can reach hurricane intensity. In this region, the cold air, which formed over the northern ice sheet, is suddenly released during intense downslope wind events and spills over the Irminger Sea where the cold and strong winds can drive heat fluxes of up to 1000 W m −2 , with potential implications for deep water formation. Moreover, the winds advect sea ice away from the coast and out of a major glacial fjord.Simulations of these wind events in Ammassalik with the atmospheric Weather Research and Forecast Model show that mountain wave dynamics contribute to the acceleration of the downslope flow. In order to capture these dynamics, a high model 3 resolution with a detailed topography is needed. The effects of using a different resolution locally in the valley extend far downstream over the Irminger Sea, which has implications for the evolution and distribution of the heat fluxes.

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The 1958–2009 Greenland ice sheet surface melt and the mid-tropospheric atmospheric circulation

Cited by 81 publications

References 42 publications

A new pattern of the moisture transport for precipitation related to the drastic decline in Arctic sea ice extent

A new pattern of the moisture transport for precipitation related to the drastic decline in Arctic sea ice extent

The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet

Strong wind events across Greenland�s coast and their influence on the ice sheet, sea ice and ocean

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