The implication of nonradiative energy fluxes dominating Greenland ice sheet exceptional ablation area surface melt in 2012

Robert S. Fausto, Dirk van As, Jason E. Box, William Colgan, Peter L. Langen, Ruth H. Mottram

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftArtikelForskningpeer review

77 Citationer (Scopus)

Resumé

During two exceptionally large July 2012 multiday Greenland ice sheet melt episodes, nonradiative energy fluxes (sensible, latent, rain, and subsurface collectively) dominated the ablation area surface energy budget of the southern and western ice sheet. On average the nonradiative energy fluxes contributed up to 76% of daily melt energy at nine automatic weather station sites in Greenland. Comprising 6% of the ablation period, these powerful melt episodes resulted in 12-15% of the south and west Greenland automatic weather station annual ablation totals. Analysis of high resolution (∼5 km) HIRHAM5 regional climate model output indicates widespread dominance of nonradiative energy fluxes across the western ablation area during these episodes. Yet HIRHAM5 still underestimates melt by up to 56% during these episodes due to a systematic underestimation of turbulent energy fluxes typical of regional climate models. This has implications for underestimating future melt, when exceptional melt episodes are expected to occur more frequently.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Sider (fra-til)2649-2658
Antal sider10
TidsskriftGeophysical Research Letters
Vol/bind43
Udgave nummer6
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 28 mar. 2016

Programområde

  • Programområde 5: Natur og klima

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