The local surface energy balance of the Ecology Glacier, King George Island, Antarctica: measurements and modelling

Author:

Bintanja Richard

Abstract

Meteorological measurements performed during the austral summer of 1990–91 are used to evaluate the surface energy balance and ablation at an elevation of 100 m asl on the Ecology Glacier, which is an outlet glacier of the main ice cap of King George Island, Antarctica. Strong, gusty westerly winds prevail, although occasional south-easterly winds from the Weddell Sea reach the island. Generally, the climate can be characterized as relatively warm and humid with mean summer temperatures well above 0°C. As a result, considerable ablation (0.75 m water equivalent per month) takes place in the lower parts of the Ecology Glacier. The surface energy balance and ablation are calculated using a model with input from meteorological data. In spite of the large amount of cloud (0.83), solar radiation provided most of the energy used for melting (70.3 W m−2). The longwave radiation, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux contributed −9.5, 27.4 and 7.4 W m−2 respectively. Calculations show that a temperature rise of 1°C increases the ablation by almost 15%. This indicates that the ice caps and glaciers currently present on the subantarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula may be quite sensitive to climate change.

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Subject

Geology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics,Oceanography

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