Article (Scientific journals)
Rapid loss of firn pore space accelerates 21st century Greenland mass loss
van Angelen, J.; Lenaerts, J.; van den Broeke, M. et al.
2013In Geophysical Research Letters, 40, p. 1-5
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Abstract :
[en] Mass loss from the two major ice sheets and their contribution to global sea level rise is accelerating. In Antarctica, mass loss is dominated by increased flow velocities of outlet glaciers, following the thinning or disintegration of coastal ice shelves into which they flow. In contrast, ∼55% of post‒1992 Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) mass loss is accounted for by surface processes, notably increased meltwater runoff. A subtle process in the surface mass balance of the GrIS is the retention and refreezing of meltwater, currently preventing ∼40% of the meltwater to reach the ocean. Here we force a high‒resolution atmosphere/snow model with a mid‒range warming scenario (RCP4.5, 1970–2100), to show that rapid loss of firn pore space, by >50% at the end of the 21st century, quickly reduces this refreezing buffer. As a result, GrIS surface mass loss accelerates throughout the 21st century and its contribution to global sea level rise increases to 1.7 ±0.5 mm yr−1, more than four times the current value.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
van Angelen, J.
Lenaerts, J.
van den Broeke, M.
Fettweis, Xavier  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Topoclimatologie
van Meijgaard, E.
Language :
English
Title :
Rapid loss of firn pore space accelerates 21st century Greenland mass loss
Publication date :
23 May 2013
Journal title :
Geophysical Research Letters
ISSN :
0094-8276
eISSN :
1944-8007
Publisher :
American Geophysical Union, Washington, United States - District of Columbia
Volume :
40
Pages :
1-5
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
European Projects :
FP7 - 226375 - ICE2SEA - Ice2sea - estimating the future contribution of continental ice to sea-level rise
Funders :
CE - Commission Européenne [BE]
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since 10 June 2013

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