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Firn depth correction along the Antarctic grounding line

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2008

Michiel van den Broeke ,
Willem Jan van de Berg  and
Erik van Meijgaard
Michiel van den Broeke*
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (IMAU), Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Willem Jan van de Berg
Affiliation:
Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (IMAU), Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Erik van Meijgaard
Affiliation:
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), De Bilt, The Netherlands
*
*m.r.vandenbroeke@uu.nl
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Abstract

To reduce the uncertainty in the calculation of Antarctic solid ice fluxes, the firn depth correction (Δh) in Antarctica is inferred from a steady-state firn densification model forced by a regional atmospheric climate model. The modelled density agrees well with observations from firn cores, apart from a site at the origin of fast flowing West Antarctic ice stream (Upstream B), where densification is anomalously rapid. The spatial distribution of Δh over Antarctica shows large variations, especially in the grounding line zone where large climate gradients exist. In places where the grounding line crosses ablation areas, Δh is zero. Along the remainder of the grounding line, Δh values range from typically 13 m in dry coastal areas (e.g. Dronning Maud Land) to 19 m in wet coastal areas (e.g. West Antarctica).

Keywords

ice sheet mass balancesea level risesnow compaction

Information

Type
Physical Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 20 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 513 - 517
Copyright
Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2008

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