The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica

Howat, I. M.; Porter, Claire; Smith, B. E.; Noh, Myoung-Jong; Morin, Paul

doi:10.5194/tc-13-665-2019

Cited by 521 publications

(630 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The ice-covered area varies between 1.36 and 1.45 × 10 7 km 2 , or 6.0%. There is good agreement between the modeled ice extent and the observed ice front (Howat et al, 2019) around the entire continent, which is a smaller spread compared to the initMIP-Antarctica submissions. The extent of ice shelves shown on Fig.2b varies between 1.19 and 1.89 × 10 6 km 2 , or 29%, which is also reduced compared to the spread 275 in initMIP-Antarctica, and in better agreement with observations (Rignot et al, 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 61%

ISMIP6 Antarctica: a multi-model ensemble of the Antarctic ice sheet evolution over the 21st century

Seroussi¹,

Goelzer²,

Morlighem³

2020

Preprint

122

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Ice flow models of the Antarctic ice sheet are commonly used to simulate its future evolution in response to different climate scenarios and inform on the mass loss that would contribute to future sea level rise. However, there is currently no consensus on estimated the future mass balance of the ice sheet, primarily because of differences in the representation of physical processes and the forcings employed. This study presents results from 18 simulations from 15 international groups focusing on the evolution of the Antarctic ice sheet during the period 2015-2100, forced with different scenarios from the Cou-5 pled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) representative of the spread in climate model results. The contribution of the Antarctic ice sheet in response to increased warming during this period varies between -7.8 and 30.0 cm of Sea Level Equivalent (SLE). The evolution of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet varies widely among models, with an overall mass loss up to 21.0 cm SLE in response to changes in oceanic conditions. East Antarctica mass change varies between -6.5 and 16.5 cm SLE, with a significant increase in surface mass balance outweighing the increased ice discharge under most RCP 8.5 scenario 10 forcings. The inclusion of ice shelf collapse, here assumed to be caused by large amounts of liquid water ponding at the surface of ice shelves, yields an additional mass loss of 8 mm compared to simulations without ice shelf collapse. The largest sources of uncertainty come from the ocean-induced melt rates, the calibration of these melt rates based on oceanic conditions taken outside of ice shelf cavities and the ice sheet dynamic response to these oceanic changes. Results under RCP 2.6 scenario based on two CMIP5 AOGCMs show an overall mass loss of 10 mm SLE compared to simulations done under present-day 15 conditions, with limited mass gain in East Antarctica.

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mentioning

confidence: 61%

ISMIP6 Antarctica: a multi-model ensemble of the Antarctic ice sheet evolution over the 21st century

Seroussi¹,

Goelzer²,

Morlighem³

2020

Preprint

122

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“…On the ice shelf, there is distinct topographic structure normal to ice flow, forming along-flow "streaklines" that are visible in satellite products such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Mosaic of Antarctica (Hulbe & Fahnestock, 2007), the Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (Bindschadler et al, 2008;Fahnestock et al, 2016), and the Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA: Howat et al, 2019). These streaklines delineate paths of ice parcels from the grounding line to the ice front ( Figure 1c).…”

Section: Horizontal Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Multidecadal Basal Melt Rates and Structure of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Using Airborne Ice Penetrating Radar

et al. 2020

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Basal melting of ice shelves is a major source of mass loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet. In situ measurements of ice shelf basal melt rates are sparse, while the more extensive estimates from satellite altimetry require precise information about firn density and characteristics of near‐surface layers. We describe a novel method for estimating multidecadal basal melt rates using airborne ice penetrating radar data acquired during a 3‐year survey of the Ross Ice Shelf. These data revealed an ice column with distinct upper and lower units whose thicknesses change as ice flows from the grounding line toward the ice front. We interpret the lower unit as continental meteoric ice that has flowed across the grounding line and the upper unit as ice formed from snowfall onto the relatively flat ice shelf. We used the ice thickness difference and strain‐induced thickness change of the lower unit between the survey lines, combined with ice velocities, to derive basal melt rates averaged over one to six decades. Our results are similar to satellite laser altimetry estimates for the period 2003–2009, suggesting that the Ross Ice Shelf melt rates have been fairly stable for several decades. We identify five sites of elevated basal melt rates, in the range 0.5–2 m a−1, near the ice shelf front. These hot spots indicate pathways into the sub‐ice‐shelf ocean cavity for warm seawater, likely a combination of summer‐warmed Antarctic Surface Water and modified Circumpolar Deep Water, and are potential areas of ice shelf weakening if the ocean warms.

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“…Overview of the study region. The background image is from a Radarsat mosaic (Jezek & RAMP‐Product‐Team, ), overlaid with the ice draft (Howat et al, ). The location of the ApRES on the Roi Baudouin Ice Shelf is indicated by the green square.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines

Sun

Hattermann

Pattyn

et al. 2019

Geophysical Research Letters

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The buttressing potential of ice shelves is modulated by changes in subshelf melting, in response to changing ocean conditions. We analyze the temporal variability in subshelf melting using an autonomous phase‐sensitive radio‐echo sounder near the grounding line of the Roi Baudouin Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. When combined with additional oceanographic evidence of seasonal variations in the stratification and the amplification of diurnal tides around the shelf break topography (Gunnerus Bank), the results suggest an intricate mechanism in which topographic waves control the seasonal melt rate variability near the grounding line. This mechanism has not been considered before and has the potential to enhance local melt rates without advecting different water masses. As topographic waves seem to strengthen in a stratified ocean, the freshening of Antarctic surface water, predicted by observations and models, is likely to increase future basal melting in this area.

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The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica

Cited by 521 publications

References 18 publications

ISMIP6 Antarctica: a multi-model ensemble of the Antarctic ice sheet evolution over the 21st century

ISMIP6 Antarctica: a multi-model ensemble of the Antarctic ice sheet evolution over the 21st century

Multidecadal Basal Melt Rates and Structure of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Using Airborne Ice Penetrating Radar

Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines

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