Diagnostic model analysis of spatial mass, energy and melt distribution in a catchment in northeast Greenland

Carl Egede Bøggild

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter in bookResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Surface climate and resulting snow accumulation and melt distribution is examined for a catchment in northeast Greenland. From satellite observations, areas of bare ice in winter (no snow accumulation) indicate locally high wind speeds, which coincide with areas displaying high melt rates in summer. A network of climate stations was installed during the summer of 1995. The data serve as input to drive a simple spatially-distributed energy balance model. Using a simple model to drive the katabatic wind field on the glacier, a map of the snow distribution is proposed, which compares well with observations from a satellite image. It is difficult to determine whether the extent of the presented spatial variability in climate and mass balance is valid for other parts of the northeast Greenland ice sheet margin. However, this approach may improve modelling of the climate and melting distribution, because it attempts to move beyond a simple, elevation-dependent model toward a fully distributed formulation, which is necessary for describing the mass balance of a low ablation area with significant variability.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNorthern research basins water balance
EditorsDouglas L. Kane, Daqing Yang
PublisherInternational Association of Hydrological Sciences
Pages257-268
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)1-901502-82-1
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Publication series

SeriesIAHS Publication
Volume290
ISSN0144-7815

Programme Area

  • Programme Area 5: Nature and Climate

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Diagnostic model analysis of spatial mass, energy and melt distribution in a catchment in northeast Greenland'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this