Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Title

Annals of Glaciology

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Publication Date

2002

First Page

79

Last Page

83

Volume Number

35

Abstract/ Summary

The rate of ice-sheet thickness change is calculated for 10 sites in Greenland by comparing measured values of ice vertical velocity and snow-accumulation rate. Vertical velocities are derived from repeat surveys of markers using precision global positioning system techniques, and accumulation rates are determined from stratigraphic analysis of firn cores. The results apply to time-scales covered by the firn-core records, which in most cases are a few decades. A spectrum of thickness-change rates is obtained, ranging from substantial thinning to slow thickening. The sites where ice-sheet thinning is indicated are located near the ice-sheet margin or in outlet glacier catchments. Interior and high-elevation sites are predominantly in balance or thickening slowly. Uncertainties in the rates of thickness change are dominated by errors in the determination of accumulation rates. The results of this work are broadly comparable with regional estimates of mass balance obtained from the analysis of catchment input vs discharge.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Hamilton, GS, and Whillans, IM, 2002, Local Rates of Ice-Sheet Thickness Change in Greenland: Annals of Glaciology, Vol 35, v. 35, p. 79-83. Available on publisher's site at: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/igsoc/agl/2002/00000035/00000001/art00015

Publisher Statement

© Copyright 2002 by the International Glaciological Society

DOI

10.3189/172756402781817383

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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Rights Statement

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.