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Review: Ice sheet mass balance and sea level
Citation
Allison, I and Alley, RB and Fricker, HA and Thomas, RH and Warner, RC, Review: Ice sheet mass balance and sea level, Antarctic Science, 21, (5) pp. 413-426. ISSN 0954-1020 (2009) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2009 Antarctic Science Ltd
DOI: doi:10.1017/S0954102009990137
Abstract
Determining the mass balance of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets (GIS and AIS) has long
been a major challenge for polar science. But until recent advances in measurement technology, the
uncertainty in ice sheet mass balance estimates was greater than any net contribution to sea level change.
The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (AR4) was able, for the
first time, to conclude that, taken together, the GIS and AIS have probably been contributing to sea level
rise over the period 1993–2003 at an average rate estimated at 0.4mm yr-1. Since the cut-off date for work
included in AR4, a number of further studies of the mass balance of GIS and AIS have been made using
satellite altimetry, satellite gravity measurements and estimates of mass influx and discharge using a variety
of techniques. Overall, these studies reinforce the conclusion that the ice sheets are contributing to present
sea level rise, and suggest that the rate of loss from GIS has recently increased. The largest unknown in the
projections of sea level rise over the next century is the potential for rapid dynamic collapse of ice sheets.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Antarctic ice sheet, sea level rise, mass balance |
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Physical geography and environmental geoscience |
Research Field: | Glaciology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards |
Objective Group: | Understanding climate change |
Objective Field: | Understanding climate change not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Allison, I (Dr Ian Allison) |
UTAS Author: | Warner, RC (Dr Roland Warner) |
ID Code: | 100644 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 58 |
Deposited By: | CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems |
Deposited On: | 2015-05-22 |
Last Modified: | 2015-09-08 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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