The dynamic response of high Arctic glaciers to global warming and their contribution to sea-level rise
- Univ. of Cambridge (United Kingdom). Scott Polar Research Inst.
- Univ. of Wales (United Kingdom)
Simulations with General Circulation Models have indicated that global warming will be enhanced at high latitudes. Regions in the high Arctic are highly sensitive to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, with an amplified theoretical rise of 8--14 C predicted to take place in winter and a negligible rise of 2 C in summer. Wetter conditions in these regions are quite plausible with global warming due to warmer sea surface temperatures, melting of sea ice and a greater moisture holding capacity of the atmosphere. Recent observations show a marked increase in precipitation in the high Arctic regions during the past decades, particularly in the winters. The notion of whether the increased melting of snow due to global warming would be offset by increased snowfall is investigated in this study. To make reliable predictions of the response of high Arctic glaciers to global warming and hence their contribution to sea-level rise, a numerical model has been developed to investigate the interactions of the glaciers with climate change induced by global warming. The model is a one-dimensional numerical ice-flow model coupled with a surface balance model. Accumulation and ablation at the glacier surface are determined by the surface balance model using an energy balance approach.
- OSTI ID:
- 78108
- Journal Information:
- World Resource Review, Vol. 7, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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