文章基本信息

标题：Does sea ice influence Greenland ice sheet surface-melt?
本地全文：下载
作者：Asa K Rennermalm ; Laurence C Smith ; Julienne C Stroeve 等
期刊名称：Environmental Research Letters
印刷版ISSN：1748-9326
电子版ISSN：1748-9326
出版年度：2009
卷号：4
期号：2
页码：024011
DOI：10.1088/1748-9326/4/2/024011
语种：English
出版社：IOP Publishing Ltd
摘要：Recent decreases in Arctic sea ice and increases in Greenland ice sheet surface-melt may have global impacts, but the interactions between these two processes are unknown. Using microwave satellite data, we explore the spatial and temporal covariance of sea ice extent and ice sheet surface-melt around Greenland from 1979 to 2007. Significant covariance is discovered in several loci in the late summer, with the strongest covariance in western Greenland, particularly in the southwest (Kangerlussuaq). In this region, wind direction patterns and a statistical lag analysis of ice retreat/advance and surface-melt event timings suggest that sea ice extent change is a potential driver of ice sheet melt. Here, late summer wind directions facilitate onshore advection of ocean heat, and enhanced melting on the ice sheet commonly occurs after reductions in offshore sea ice. Hence, this study identifies for the first time the covariability patterns of sea ice and ice sheet melt and suggests that a retreating sea ice margin may enhance melting over the ice sheet.