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Recent Greenland Ice Mass Loss by Drainage System from Satellite Gravity Observations

TitleRecent Greenland Ice Mass Loss by Drainage System from Satellite Gravity Observations
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsLuthcke, S. B., H. J. Zwally, W. Abdalati, D. D. Rowlands, R. D. Ray, R. S. Nerem, F. G. Lemoine, J. J. McCarthy, and D. S. Chinn
JournalScience
Volume314
Issue5803
Pagination1286-1289
Date PublishedNOV 24 2006
ISBN Number0036-8075
KeywordsBALANCE, EARTH, GRACE, SHEET, surface, variability
Abstract

Mass changes of the Greenland Ice Sheet resolved by drainage system regions were derived from a local mass concentration analysis of NASA - Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment ( GRACE mission) observations. From 2003 to 2005, the ice sheet lost 101 +/- 16 gigaton/year, with a gain of 54 gigaton/year above 2000 meters and a loss of 155 gigaton/year at lower elevations. The lower elevations show a large seasonal cycle, with mass losses during summer melting followed by gains from fall through spring. The overall rate of loss reflects a considerable change in trend ( - 113 +/- 17 gigaton/ year) from a near balance during the 1990s but is smaller than some other recent estimates.

DOIDOI 10.1126/science.1130776
Reference number

41

Short TitleRecent Greenland Ice Mass Loss by Drainage System from Satellite Gravity Observations
Citation Key41