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Explanation of the extreme low surface mass balance over the Greenland ice sheet in 2010 with the help of a regional climate model and a circulation type classification.
Fettweis, Xavier; van den Broeke, Michiel; van de Berg, Willem Jan et al.
2011EGU General Assembly 2011
 

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Abstract :
[en] The regional climate models MAR and RCMO show that the surface mass balance (SMB) rate of the whole Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is the lowest in 2010 since 50 years. This record is a combination of an abnormal dry year and an exceptional melt in summer confirmed by ground measurements and satellite-derived observations. An automated circulation type classification (CTC) is used for detecting anomalies in the daily atmospheric circulation at 500hPa over the Greenland ice sheet during 2010. The CTC reveals that the low snow accumulation is due to the general circulation (negative NAO index) while the record melt in summer is rather a consequence of the well known surface albedo-temperature feedback induced by - a warmer and thinner than normal snowpack above the bare ice at the end of the spring. - an earlier beginning of the melt season. - a drier summer. - an exceptional persistence of atmospheric circulations inducing warm and dry conditions over the GrIS. All these anomalies induced in summer 2010 an exceptional time exposure of bare ice areas (with a lower albedo than snow) over the GrIS which impacts the surface melt. Sensitivity experiments carried out by the MAR model allow to estimate the importance of each anomaly in the record simulated melt of summer 2010.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Fettweis, Xavier  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Topoclimatologie
van den Broeke, Michiel;  Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
van de Berg, Willem Jan;  Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tedesco, Marco;  The City College of New York, CUNY, New York, NY, USA
Belleflamme, Alexandre ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Topoclimatologie
Franco, Bruno ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Topoclimatologie
Erpicum, Michel ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Topoclimatologie
Language :
English
Title :
Explanation of the extreme low surface mass balance over the Greenland ice sheet in 2010 with the help of a regional climate model and a circulation type classification.
Publication date :
06 April 2011
Event name :
EGU General Assembly 2011
Event organizer :
EGU
Event place :
Vienna, Austria
Audience :
International
Available on ORBi :
since 09 April 2011

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