scholarly journals Antarctic ice-mass balance 2003 to 2012: regional reanalysis of GRACE satellite gravimetry measurements with improved estimate of glacial-isostatic adjustment based on GPS uplift rates

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1499-1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Sasgen ◽  
H. Konrad ◽  
E. R. Ivins ◽  
M. R. Van den Broeke ◽  
J. L. Bamber ◽  
...  

Abstract. We present regional-scale mass balances for 25 drainage basins of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) from satellite observations of the Gravity and Climate Experiment (GRACE) for time period January 2003 to September 2012. Satellite gravimetry estimates of the AIS mass balance are strongly influenced by mass movement in the Earth interior caused by ice advance and retreat during the last glacial cycle. Here, we develop an improved glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA) estimate for Antarctica using newly available GPS uplift rates, allowing us to more accurately separate GIA-induced trends in the GRACE gravity fields from those caused by current imbalances of the AIS. Our revised GIA estimate is considerably lower than previous predictions, yielding an estimate of apparent mass change of 53 ± 18 Gt yr−1. Therefore, our AIS mass balance of −114 ± 23 Gt yr−1 is less negative than previous GRACE estimates. The northern Antarctic Peninsula and the Amundsen Sea sector exhibit the largest mass loss (−26 ± 3 Gt yr−1 and −127 ± 7 Gt yr−1, respectively). In contrast, East Antarctica exhibits a slightly positive mass balance (26 ± 13 Gt yr−1), which is, however, mostly the consequence of compensating mass anomalies in Dronning Maud and Enderby Land (positive) and Wilkes and George V Land (negative) due to interannual accumulation variations. In total, 6% of the area constitutes about half the AIS imbalance, contributing 151 ± 7 Gt yr−1 (ca. 0.4 mm yr−1) to global mean sea-level change. Most of this imbalance is caused by ice-dynamic speed-up expected to prevail in the near future.

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 3703-3732 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Sasgen ◽  
H. Konrad ◽  
E. R. Ivins ◽  
M. R. van den Broeke ◽  
J. L. Bamber ◽  
...  

Abstract. We present regional-scale mass balances for 25 drainage basins of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) from satellite observations of the Gravity and Climate Experiment (GRACE) for the years 2002–2011. Satellite gravimetry estimates of the AIS mass balance are strongly influenced by mass movement in the Earth interior caused by ice advance and retreat during the last glacial cycle. Here, we develop an improved glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA) estimate for Antarctica using newly available GPS uplift rates, allowing us to more accurately separate GIA-induced trends in the GRACE gravity fields from those caused by current imbalances of the AIS. Our revised GIA estimate is considerably lower than previous predictions, yielding an (upper) estimate of apparent mass change of 48 ± 18 Gt yr−1. Therefore, our AIS mass balance of −103 ± 23 Gt yr−1 is considerably less negative than previous GRACE estimates. The Northern Antarctic Peninsula and the Amundsen Sea Sector exhibit the largest mass loss (−25 ± 6 Gt yr−1 and −126 ± 11 Gt yr−1, respectively). In contrast, East Antarctica exhibits a slightly positive mass balance (19 ± 16 Gt yr−1), which is, however, mostly the consequence of compensating mass anomalies in Dronning Maud and Enderby Land (positive) and Wilkes and George V Land (negative) due to interannual accumulation variations. In total, 7% of the area constitute more than half of the AIS imbalance (53%), contributing −151 ± 9 Gt yr−1 to global mean sea-level change. Most of this imbalance is caused by long-term ice-dynamic speed up expected to prevail in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-366
Author(s):  
Matthias O. Willen ◽  
Martin Horwath ◽  
Ludwig Schröder ◽  
Andreas Groh ◽  
Stefan R. M. Ligtenberg ◽  
...  

Abstract. Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) is a major source of uncertainty for ice and ocean mass balance estimates derived from satellite gravimetry. In Antarctica the gravimetric effect of cryospheric mass change and GIA are of the same order of magnitude. Inverse estimates from geodetic observations hold some promise for mass signal separation. Here, we investigate the combination of satellite gravimetry and altimetry and demonstrate that the choice of input data sets and processing methods will influence the resultant GIA inverse estimate. This includes the combination that spans the full GRACE record (April 2002–August 2016). Additionally, we show the variations that arise from combining the actual time series of the differing data sets. Using the inferred trends, we assess the spread of GIA solutions owing to (1) the choice of different degree-1 and C20 products, (2) viable candidate surface-elevation-change products derived from different altimetry missions corresponding to different time intervals, and (3) the uncertainties associated with firn process models. Decomposing the total-mass signal into the ice mass and the GIA components is strongly dependent on properly correcting for an apparent bias in regions of small signal. Here our ab initio solutions force the mean GIA and GRACE trend over the low precipitation zone of East Antarctica to be zero. Without applying this bias correction, the overall spread of total-mass change and GIA-related mass change using differing degree-1 and C20 products is 68 and 72 Gt a−1, respectively, for the same time period (March 2003–October 2009). The bias correction method collapses this spread to 6 and 5 Gt a−1, respectively. We characterize the firn process model uncertainty empirically by analysing differences between two alternative surface mass balance products. The differences propagate to a 10 Gt a−1 spread in debiased GIA-related mass change estimates. The choice of the altimetry product poses the largest uncertainty on debiased mass change estimates. The spread of debiased GIA-related mass change amounts to 15 Gt a−1 for the period from March 2003 to October 2009. We found a spread of 49 Gt a−1 comparing results for the periods April 2002–August 2016 and July 2010–August 2016. Our findings point out limitations associated with data quality, data processing, and correction for apparent biases.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias O. Willen ◽  
Martin Horwath ◽  
Ludwig Schröder ◽  
Andreas Groh ◽  
Stefan R. M. Ligtenberg ◽  
...  

Abstract. Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) is a major source of uncertainty in estimated ice and ocean mass balance that are based on satellite gravimetry. In particular over Antarctica the gravimetric effect of cryospheric mass change and GIA are of the same order of magnitude. Inverse estimates from geodetic observations are promising for separating the two superimposed mass signals. Here, we investigate the combination of satellite gravimetry and altimetry and how the choice of input data sets and processing details affect the inverse GIA estimates. This includes the combination for almost full GRACE lifespan (2002-04/2016-08). Further we show results from combining data sets on time-series level. Specifically on trend level, we assess the spread of GIA solutions that arises from (1) the choice of different degree-1 and C20 products, (2) different surface elevation change products derived from different altimetry missions and associated to different time intervals, and (3) the uncertainty of firn-process models. The decomposition of the total-mass signal into the ice-mass signal and the apparent GIA-mass signal depends strongly on correcting for apparent biases in initial solutions by forcing the mean GIA and GRACE trend over the low precipitation zone of East Antarctica to be zero. Prior to bias correction, the overall spread of total-mass change and apparent GIA-mass change using differing degree-1 and C20 products is 68 and 72 Gt a−1, respectively, for the same time period (2003-03/2009-10). The bias correction suppresses this spread to 6 and 5 Gt a−1, respectively. We characterise the firn-process model uncertainty empirically by analysing differences between two alternative surface-mass-balance products. The differences propagate to a 21 Gt a−1 spread in apparent GIA-mass-change estimates. The choice of the altimetry product poses the largest uncertainty on debiased mass-change estimates. The overall spread of debiased GIA-mass change amounts to 18 and 49 Gt a−1 for a fixed time period (2003-03/2009-10) and various time periods, respectively. Our findings point out limitations associated with data processing, correction for apparent biases, and time dependency.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Theresia Kappelsberger ◽  
Undine Strößenreuther ◽  
Mirko Scheinert ◽  
Martin Horwath ◽  
Andreas Groh ◽  
...  

<p>Models of glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA) exhibit large differences in north-east Greenland, reflecting uncertainties about glacial history and solid Earth rheology. The GIA uncertainties feed back to uncertainties in present-day mass-balance estimates from satellite gravimetry. We present results from repeated and continuous GNSS measurements which provide direct observables of the bedrock displacement. The repeated measurements were conducted within five measurement campaigns between 2008 and 2017. They reveal uplift rates in north-east Greenland in the range of 2.8 to 8.9 mm yr<sup>-1</sup>. We used the observed uplift rates to validate different GIA models in conjunction with estimates of the elastic load deformation induced by present-day ice-mass changes and ocean mass redistribution. To determine present-day ice-mass changes for both the Greenland Ice Sheet and the peripheral glaciers, we combined CryoSat-2 satellite altimetry data with GRACE satellite gravimetry data. The different GIA models were consistently used in all processing steps. Our comparison between observed and predicted uplift rates clearly favours GIA models that show low rates (0.7 to 4.4 mm yr<sup>-1</sup> at the GNSS sites) over GIA models with higher rates of up to 8.3 mm yr<sup>-1</sup>. Applying the correction predicted by the GIA model favoured in north-east Greenland we estimate an ice-mass loss of 233 ± 43 Gt yr<sup>-1</sup> for entire Greenland (including peripheral glaciers) over the period July 2010 to June 2017.</p>


Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 371-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schmidt ◽  
B. Lund ◽  
J-O. Näslund ◽  
J. Fastook

Abstract. In this study we compare a recent reconstruction of the Weichselian Ice Sheet as simulated by the University of Maine ice sheet model (UMISM) to two reconstructions commonly used in glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) modelling: ICE-5G and ANU (Australian National University, also known as RSES). The UMISM reconstruction is carried out on a regional scale based on thermo-mechanical modelling, whereas ANU and ICE-5G are global models based on the sea level equation. The three models of the Weichselian Ice Sheet are compared directly in terms of ice volume, extent and thickness, as well as in terms of predicted glacial isostatic adjustment in Fennoscandia. The three reconstructions display significant differences. Whereas UMISM and ANU includes phases of pronounced advance and retreat prior to the last glacial maximum (LGM), the thickness and areal extent of the ICE-5G ice sheet is more or less constant up until the LGM. During the post-LGM deglaciation phase ANU and ICE-5G melt relatively uniformly over the entire ice sheet in contrast to UMISM, which melts preferentially from the edges, thus reflecting the fundamental difference in the reconstruction scheme. We find that all three reconstructions fit the present-day uplift rates over Fennoscandia equally well, albeit with different optimal earth model parameters. Given identical earth models, ICE-5G predicts the fastest present-day uplift rates, and ANU the slowest. Moreover, only for ANU can a unique best-fit model be determined. For UMISM and ICE-5G there is a range of earth models that can reproduce the present-day uplift rates equally well. This is understood from the higher present-day uplift rates predicted by ICE-5G and UMISM, which result in bifurcations in the best-fit upper- and lower-mantle viscosities. We study the areal distributions of present-day residual surface velocities in Fennoscandia and show that all three reconstructions generally over-predict velocities in southwestern Fennoscandia and that there are large differences in the fit to the observational data in Finland and northernmost Sweden and Norway. These difference may provide input to further enhancements of the ice sheet reconstructions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunchun Gao ◽  
Yang Lu ◽  
Zizhan Zhang ◽  
Hongling Shi

Many recent mass balance estimates using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and satellite altimetry (including two kinds of sensors of radar and laser) show that the ice mass of the Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) is in overall decline. However, there are still large differences among previously published estimates of the total mass change, even in the same observed periods. The considerable error sources mainly arise from the forward models (e.g., glacial isostatic adjustment [GIA] and firn compaction) that may be uncertain but indispensable to simulate some processes not directly measured or obtained by these observations. To minimize the use of these forward models, we estimate the mass change of ice sheet and present-day GIA using multi-geodetic observations, including GRACE and Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), as well as Global Positioning System (GPS), by an improved method of joint inversion estimate (JIE), which enables us to solve simultaneously for the Antarctic GIA and ice mass trends. The GIA uplift rates generated from our JIE method show a good agreement with the elastic-corrected GPS uplift rates, and the total GIA-induced mass change estimate for the AIS is 54 ± 27 Gt/yr, which is in line with many recent GPS calibrated GIA estimates. Our GIA result displays the presence of significant uplift rates in the Amundsen Sea Embayment of West Antarctica, where strong uplift has been observed by GPS. Over the period February 2003 to October 2009, the entire AIS changed in mass by −84 ± 31 Gt/yr (West Antarctica: −69 ± 24, East Antarctica: 12 ± 16 and the Antarctic Peninsula: −27 ± 8), greater than the GRACE-only estimates obtained from three Mascon solutions (CSR: −50 ± 30, JPL: −71 ± 30, and GSFC: −51 ± 33 Gt/yr) for the same period. This may imply that single GRACE data tend to underestimate ice mass loss due to the signal leakage and attenuation errors of ice discharge are often worse than that of surface mass balance over the AIS.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 2345-2388 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schmidt ◽  
B. Lund ◽  
J-O. Näslund

Abstract. In this study we compare a recent reconstruction of the Weichselian ice-sheet as simulated by the University of Main ice-sheet model (UMISM) to two reconstructions commonly used in glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) modeling: ICE-5G and ANU (also known as RSES). The UMISM reconstruction is carried out on a regional scale based on thermo-mechanical modelling whereas ANU and ICE-5G are global models based on the sea-level equation. The Weichselian ice-sheet in the three models are compared directly in terms of ice volume, extent and thickness, as well as in terms of predicted glacial isostatic adjustment in Fennoscandia. The three reconstructions display significant differences. UMISM and ANU includes phases of pronounced advance and retreat prior to the last glacial maximum (LGM), whereas the thickness and areal extent of the ICE-5G ice-sheet is more or less constant up until LGM. The final retreat of the ice-sheet initiates at earliest time in ICE-5G and latest in UMISM, while ice free conditions are reached earliest in UMISM and latest in ICE-5G. The post-LGM deglaciation style also differs notably between the ice models. While the UMISM simulation includes two temporary halts in the deglaciation, the later during the Younger Dryas, ANU only includes a decreased deglaciation rate during Younger Dryas and ICE-5G retreats at a relatively constant pace after an initial slow phase. Moreover, ANU and ICE-5G melt relatively uniformly over the entire ice-sheet in contrast to UMISM which melts preferentially from the edges. We find that all three reconstructions fit the present day uplift rates over Fennoscandia and the observed relative sea-level curve along the Ångerman river equally well, albeit with different optimal earth model parameters. Given identical earth models, ICE-5G predicts the fastest present day uplift rates and ANU the slowest, ANU also prefers the thinnest lithosphere. Moreover, only for ANU can a unique best fit model be determined. For UMISM and ICE-5G there is a range of earth models that can reproduce the present day uplift rates equally well. This is understood from the higher present day uplift rates predicted by ICE-5G and UMISM, which results in a bifurcation in the best fit mantle viscosity. Comparison of the uplift histories predicted by the ice-sheets indicate that inclusion of relative sea-level data in the data fit can reduce the observed ambiguity. We study the areal distributions of present day residual surface velocities in Fennoscandia and show that all three reconstructions generally over-predict velocities in southwestern Fennoscandia and that there are large differences in the fit to the observational data in Finland and northernmost Sweden and Norway. These difference may provide input to further enhancements of the ice-sheet reconstructions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 3497-3541 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Gunter ◽  
O. Didova ◽  
R. E. M. Riva ◽  
S. R. M. Ligtenberg ◽  
J. T. M. Lenaerts ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study explores an approach that simultaneously estimates Antarctic mass balance and glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) through the combination of satellite gravity and altimetry data sets. The results improve upon previous efforts by incorporating reprocessed data sets over a longer period of time, and now include a firn densification model to account for firn compaction and surface processes. A range of different GRACE gravity models were evaluated, as well as a new ICESat surface height trend map computed using an overlapping footprint approach. When the GIA models created from the combination approach were compared to in-situ GPS ground station displacements, the vertical rates estimated showed consistently better agreement than existing GIA models. In addition, the new empirically derived GIA rates suggest the presence of strong uplift in the Amundsen Sea and Philippi/Denman sectors, as well as subsidence in large parts of East Antarctica. The total GIA mass change estimates for the entire Antarctic ice sheet ranged from 53 to 100 Gt yr−1, depending on the GRACE solution used, and with an estimated uncertainty of ±40 Gt yr−1. Over the time frame February 2003–October 2009, the corresponding ice mass change showed an average value of −100 ± 44 Gt yr−1 (EA: 5 ± 38, WA: −105 ± 22), consistent with other recent estimates in the literature, with the mass loss mostly concentrated in West Antarctica. The refined approach presented in this study shows the contribution that such data combinations can make towards improving estimates of present day GIA and ice mass change, particularly with respect to determining more reliable uncertainties.


2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (1) ◽  
pp. 384-392
Author(s):  
T Pico

SUMMARY Locally, the elevation of last interglacial (LIG; ∼122 ka) sea level markers is modulated by processes of vertical displacement, such as tectonic uplift or glacial isostatic adjustment, and these processes must be accounted for in deriving estimates of global ice volumes from geological sea level records. The impact of sediment loading on LIG sea level markers is generally not accounted for in these corrections, as it is assumed that the impact is negligible except in extremely high depositional settings, such as the world's largest river deltas. Here we perform a generalized test to assess the extent to which sediment loading may impact global variability in the present-day elevation of LIG sea level markers. We numerically simulate river sediment deposition using a diffusive model that incorporates a migrating shoreline to construct a global history of sedimentation over the last glacial cycle. We then calculate sea level changes due to this sediment loading using a gravitationally self-consistent model of glacial isostatic adjustment, and compare these predictions to a global compilation of LIG sea level data. We perform a statistical analysis, which accounts for spatial autocorrelation, across a global compilation of 1287 LIG sea level markers. Though limited by uncertainties in the LIG sea level database and the precise history of river deposition, this analysis suggests there is not a statistically significant global signal of sediment loading in LIG sea level markers. Nevertheless, at sites where LIG sea level markers have been measured, local sea level predicted using our simulated sediment loading history is perturbed up to 16 m. More generally, these predictions establish the relative sensitivity of different regions to sediment loading. Finally, we consider the implications of our results for estimates of tectonic uplift rates derived from LIG marine terraces; we predict that sediment loading causes 5–10 m of subsidence over the last glacial cycle at specific locations along active margin regions such as California and Barbados, where deriving long-term tectonic uplift rates from LIG shorelines is a common practice.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Ivins ◽  
Andrew Shepherd

<p>The Ice Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercize  (IMBIE) was initiated in 2011 with the intent of better reconciling the various reports  on the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS)  and Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) mass balance during the 2000’s. The focused study was funded and promoted by both ESA and NASA to better understand the origins of  contradictory results using space observations for a 20 year-long period: 1990-2010. Here we review some of the main results of phase I and II of IMBIE and the strength of the GRACE mission results.  For 20-year long trends (2002-2021) trends are influenced by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) in Greenland, but with more profound consequence for Antarctica. IMBIE-I determined a mass balance trend for 1992-2011: -142 ± 49 and -71 ± 83 Gt/yr, for GrIS and AIS, respectively.  IMBIE-II was open to a wider sampling of international  investigative teams and the results for GrIS over 1992-2018 changed to -150 ± 13 Gt/yr. Most notably the 1-sigma formal errors reported in IMBIE-II were 25% of those reported in the earlier IMBIE-I study for GrIS. For Antarctica the most notable contrast in results was the total value of the trend over 1992-2017 (IMBIE-II) in contrast 1992-2011 (IMBIE-I) (-109 ± 56 vs -71 ± 83 Gt/yr, respectively). The loss estimate for AIS rose by 67% and the error also reduced by about 33%. Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) estimates for Antarctica cluster around + 54 Gt/yr (meaning their correction adds to the negativity of the mass balance result for GRACE and GRACE-FO).  The East Antarctica Ice Sheet (EAIS) has trend errors for the estimate 1992-2017 (IMBIE-II) that continue to dwarf the uncertainty: +5 ± 46 Gt/yr. Beneath EAIS, GIA is also most uncertain and models have the greatest spread. We discuss the general plan for IMBIE-III that is currently forming.</p>


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