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Dynamic Inland Propagation of Thinning Due to Ice Loss at the Margins of the Greenland Ice SheetMass-balance analysis of the Greenland ice sheet based on surface elevation changes observed by the European Remote-sensing Satellite (ERS) (1992-2002) and Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) (2003-07) indicates that the strongly increased mass loss at lower elevations (<2000 m) of the ice sheet, as observed during 2003-07, appears to induce interior ice thinning at higher elevations. In this paper, we perform a perturbation experiment with a three-dimensional anisotropic ice-flow model (AIF model) to investigate this upstream propagation. Observed thinning rates in the regions below 2000m elevation are used as perturbation inputs. The model runs with perturbation for 10 years show that the extensive mass loss at the ice-sheet margins does in fact cause interior thinning on short timescales (i.e. decadal). The modeled pattern of thinning over the ice sheet agrees with the observations, which implies that the strong mass loss since the early 2000s at low elevations has had a dynamic impact on the entire ice sheet. The modeling results also suggest that even if the large mass loss at the margins stopped, the interior ice sheet would continue thinning for 300 years and would take thousands of years for full dynamic recovery.
Document ID
20140006602
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.3189/2012JoG11J187
Authors
Wang, Wei Li (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Li, Jun J. (Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Zwally, H. Jay (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
June 3, 2014
Publication Date
August 1, 2012
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Glaciology
Publisher: International Glaciology Society
Volume: 58
Issue: 210
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN9227
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG11HP14C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
ice dynamics
Greenland ice sheet
ice sheet modeling

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