Discussion on ‘Active Layer Thickness Prediction on the Western Antarctic Peninsula’ by Wilhelmet al. ()

Abstract

Wilhelm et al. (2015) employed the widely used Stefan and Kudryavtsev equations to predict the maximum active-layer thickness (ALT) on Amsler Island, Western Antarctic Peninsula. Their predictions far exceed the observations of ALT reported from other parts of the region. Here, I demonstrate that the values of ALT are significantly overestimated by the predictive equations because the authors incorrectly assumed that little or no latent heat of phase change is absorbed during thawing. Although the area is the warmest in the Antarctic Peninsula region, with a rapid increase in air temperature and permafrost temperatures close to 0 °C, the active layer is likely to be substantially thinner than values predicted by Wilhelm et al. (2015). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.