Abstract
Abstract. With the aim to force an ice dynamical model, the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) surface mass balance (SMB) was modelled at different spatial resolutions (15–50 km) for the period 1990–2010, using the regional climate model MAR (Modèle Atmosphérique Régional) forced by the ERA-INTERIM reanalysis. This comparison revealed that (i) the inter-annual variability of the SMB components is consistent within the different spatial resolutions investigated, (ii) the MAR model simulates heavier precipitation on average over the GrIS with decreasing spatial resolution, and (iii) the SMB components (except precipitation) can be derived from a simulation at lower resolution with an "intelligent" interpolation. This interpolation can also be used to approximate the SMB components over another topography/ice sheet mask of the GrIS. These results are important for the forcing of an ice dynamical model needed to enable future projections of the GrIS contribution to sea level rise over the coming centuries.
Highlights
A future warmer climate will induce a strengthened freshwater flux exceeding an increase in precipitation rate, the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is expected to accelerate its mass loss (Lemke et al, 2007) and to contribute substantially to the global sea level rise (SLR) (Meehl et al, 2007)
As suggested by Hanna et al (2005) and Box et al (2006), numerical models represent an opportunity to efficiently simulate the current GrIS surface mass balance evolution over long periods, given the gap in time and space of measurements in the field that causes large uncertainties in the related studies. Because of their sophisticated atmospheric physics and surface schemes parameterised for polar regions, regional climate models (RCMs) are often used to produce high-resolution GrIS surface mass balance (SMB) outputs with great success and reliability (e.g. Dethloff et al, 2002; Mote, 2003; Box et al, 2006; Ettema et al, 2009; Fettweis et al, 2011a)
This section details the correction of the 25 km outputs (25rt) interpolated onto the 15 km ice sheet mask to reduce the anomalies with respect to the 15 km MAR SMB components (15rt) by applying a correctional factor to each interpolated point: an explanatory figure is presented in the Supplement (Fig. S11)
Summary
Meltwater run-off from the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) has increased significantly during the past two decades, as highlighted by model simulations (Van den Broeke et al, 2009; Box et al, 2010; Tedesco et al, 2011) and satellite-based observations (Hall et al, 2008; Tedesco et al, 2008; Wouters et al, 2008), as a consequence of atmospheric warming over the Arctic (Box and Cohen, 2006; Hanna et al, 2008). As suggested by Hanna et al (2005) and Box et al (2006), numerical models represent an opportunity to efficiently simulate the current GrIS surface mass balance evolution over long periods, given the gap in time and space of measurements in the field that causes large uncertainties in the related studies. Because of their sophisticated atmospheric physics and surface schemes parameterised for polar regions, regional climate models (RCMs) are often used to produce high-resolution GrIS surface mass balance (SMB) outputs with great success and reliability Because of their sophisticated atmospheric physics and surface schemes parameterised for polar regions, regional climate models (RCMs) are often used to produce high-resolution GrIS surface mass balance (SMB) outputs with great success and reliability (e.g. Dethloff et al, 2002; Mote, 2003; Box et al, 2006; Ettema et al, 2009; Fettweis et al, 2011a)
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