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In situ measurements of snow accumulation in the Amundsen Sea Embayment during 2016

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2018

Joanne S. Johnson ,
John P. O’Donnell  and
Elizabeth R. Thomas
Joanne S. Johnson*
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
John P. O’Donnell
Affiliation:
School of Earth & Environment, The University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Elizabeth R. Thomas
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
*
jsj@bas.ac.uk
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Abstract

Measurements of snow accumulation are critical for reliable prediction of future ice mass loss and hence projections of sea level change. However, there are currently very few published in situ measurements of snow accumulation in the Pine Island–Thwaites glacier catchment of the Amundsen Sea Embayment, and none from low elevation sites west of 100.77° longitude. Here measurements of snow accumulation over an 11 month period in 2016 are reported for six sites in the Pine Island–Thwaites glacier catchment. The average accumulation rates of 0.10±0.01 to 1.26±0.22 m w.e. yr-1 are comparable with those derived from airborne radar for the period 1985–2009, suggesting very high rates of snowfall, particularly in the vicinity of the grounding line.

Keywords

ERA-interim re-analysisgrounding lineice sheetPine Island GlacierThwaites Glacier
Type
Physical Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 30 , Issue 3 , June 2018 , pp. 197 - 203
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Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2018 

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