Insignificant change in Antarctic snowmelt volume since 1979

P. Kuipers Munneke; G. Picard; M.R. van den Broeke; J.T.M. Lenaerts; E. van Meijgaard

doi:10.1029/2011GL050207

Insignificant change in Antarctic snowmelt volume since 1979

P. Kuipers Munneke, G. Picard, M.R. van den Broeke, J.T.M. Lenaerts, E. van Meijgaard

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Abstract

Surface snowmelt is widespread in coastal Antarctica. Satellite-based microwave sensors have been observing melt area and duration for over three decades. However, these observations do not reveal the total volume of meltwater produced on the ice sheet. Here we present an Antarctic melt volume climatology for the period 1979–2010, obtained using a regional climate model equipped with realistic snow physics. We find that mean continent-wide meltwater volume (1979–2010) amounts to 89 Gt y 1 with large interannual variability (s = 41 Gt y 1). Of this amount, 57 Gt y 1 (64%) is produced on the floating ice shelves extending from the grounded ice sheet, and 71 Gt y 1 in West-Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula. We find no statistically significant trend in either continentwide or regional meltwater volume for the 31-year period 1979–2010.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	L01501/1-L01501/5
Number of pages	5
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	39
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL050207
Publication status	Published - 2012

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2011GL050207
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title = "Insignificant change in Antarctic snowmelt volume since 1979",

abstract = "Surface snowmelt is widespread in coastal Antarctica. Satellite-based microwave sensors have been observing melt area and duration for over three decades. However, these observations do not reveal the total volume of meltwater produced on the ice sheet. Here we present an Antarctic melt volume climatology for the period 1979–2010, obtained using a regional climate model equipped with realistic snow physics. We find that mean continent-wide meltwater volume (1979–2010) amounts to 89 Gt y 1 with large interannual variability (s = 41 Gt y 1). Of this amount, 57 Gt y 1 (64%) is produced on the floating ice shelves extending from the grounded ice sheet, and 71 Gt y 1 in West-Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula. We find no statistically significant trend in either continentwide or regional meltwater volume for the 31-year period 1979–2010.",

author = "{Kuipers Munneke}, P. and G. Picard and {van den Broeke}, M.R. and J.T.M. Lenaerts and {van Meijgaard}, E.",

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T1 - Insignificant change in Antarctic snowmelt volume since 1979

AU - Kuipers Munneke, P.

AU - Picard, G.

AU - van den Broeke, M.R.

AU - Lenaerts, J.T.M.

AU - van Meijgaard, E.

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Surface snowmelt is widespread in coastal Antarctica. Satellite-based microwave sensors have been observing melt area and duration for over three decades. However, these observations do not reveal the total volume of meltwater produced on the ice sheet. Here we present an Antarctic melt volume climatology for the period 1979–2010, obtained using a regional climate model equipped with realistic snow physics. We find that mean continent-wide meltwater volume (1979–2010) amounts to 89 Gt y 1 with large interannual variability (s = 41 Gt y 1). Of this amount, 57 Gt y 1 (64%) is produced on the floating ice shelves extending from the grounded ice sheet, and 71 Gt y 1 in West-Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula. We find no statistically significant trend in either continentwide or regional meltwater volume for the 31-year period 1979–2010.

AB - Surface snowmelt is widespread in coastal Antarctica. Satellite-based microwave sensors have been observing melt area and duration for over three decades. However, these observations do not reveal the total volume of meltwater produced on the ice sheet. Here we present an Antarctic melt volume climatology for the period 1979–2010, obtained using a regional climate model equipped with realistic snow physics. We find that mean continent-wide meltwater volume (1979–2010) amounts to 89 Gt y 1 with large interannual variability (s = 41 Gt y 1). Of this amount, 57 Gt y 1 (64%) is produced on the floating ice shelves extending from the grounded ice sheet, and 71 Gt y 1 in West-Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula. We find no statistically significant trend in either continentwide or regional meltwater volume for the 31-year period 1979–2010.

U2 - 10.1029/2011GL050207

DO - 10.1029/2011GL050207

M3 - Article

SN - 0094-8276

VL - 39

SP - L01501/1-L01501/5

JO - Geophysical Research Letters

JF - Geophysical Research Letters

ER -

Insignificant change in Antarctic snowmelt volume since 1979

Abstract

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