Ice- Ocean- Atmosphere Interactions in the Arctic: Glaciers and Ice Caps

Abstract

Arctic glaciers and ice caps are currently major contributors to global sea level rise, with future projections showing a sustained input. The monitoring of these smaller land-ice masses is challenging due to the high temporal and spatial resolution required. These glaciers and ice caps are losing mass in response to climate forcings, both atmospheric and oceanic. The relative significance of these forcings is currently unknown with most recent catagorisation focusing on separating loss caused by internal dynamics vs surface mass balance changes. This leaves the specific roles of the atmosphere and the ocean unconstrained; this understanding is key to improving the accuracy of future loss of ice from these smaller land-ice masses and future sea level rise projections. This study uses CryoSAT-2 swath interferometric radar altimetry to provide high spatial and temporal observations to produce elevation timeseries in order to evaluate the trends of mass loss. It also utilises an ocean thermal model, previously used to study Greenland's outlet glaciers, to gain a better understanding of the relative contributions of atmospheric and ocean forcings to this mass loss.