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January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Niño

Author

Listed:
  • Julien P. Nicolas

    (Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University)

  • Andrew M. Vogelmann

    (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

  • Ryan C. Scott

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California)

  • Aaron B. Wilson

    (Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University)

  • Maria P. Cadeddu

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • David H. Bromwich

    (Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University
    The Ohio State University)

  • Johannes Verlinde

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Dan Lubin

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California)

  • Lynn M. Russell

    (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California)

  • Colin Jenkinson

    (Australian Bureau of Meteorology)

  • Heath H. Powers

    (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

  • Maciej Ryczek

    (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

  • Gregory Stone

    (Australian Bureau of Meteorology)

  • Jonathan D. Wille

    (Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University)

Abstract

Over the past two decades the primary driver of mass loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) has been warm ocean water underneath coastal ice shelves, not a warmer atmosphere. Yet, surface melt occurs sporadically over low-lying areas of the WAIS and is not fully understood. Here we report on an episode of extensive and prolonged surface melting observed in the Ross Sea sector of the WAIS in January 2016. A comprehensive cloud and radiation experiment at the WAIS ice divide, downwind of the melt region, provided detailed insight into the physical processes at play during the event. The unusual extent and duration of the melting are linked to strong and sustained advection of warm marine air toward the area, likely favoured by the concurrent strong El Niño event. The increase in the number of extreme El Niño events projected for the twenty-first century could expose the WAIS to more frequent major melt events.

Suggested Citation

  • Julien P. Nicolas & Andrew M. Vogelmann & Ryan C. Scott & Aaron B. Wilson & Maria P. Cadeddu & David H. Bromwich & Johannes Verlinde & Dan Lubin & Lynn M. Russell & Colin Jenkinson & Heath H. Powers &, 2017. "January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Niño," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15799
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15799
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas R. Golledge, 2020. "Long‐term projections of sea‐level rise from ice sheets," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(2), March.

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