The Effect of Foehn-Induced Surface Melt on Firn Evolution Over the Northeast Antarctic Peninsula

Journal article (2019)

Authors

R. T. Datta CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, University of Maryland, Columbia University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Marco Tedesco Columbia University, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Xavier Fettweis Université de Liège
Cecile Agosta Université Grenoble Alpes, Student
S.L.M. Lhermitte Mathematical Geodesy and Positioning - CEG
Jan T.M. Lenaerts University of Colorado
Nander Wever University of Colorado
Research Group
Mathematical Geodesy and Positioning (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 Rajashree Tri Datta, Marco Tedesco, Xavier Fettweis, Cecile Agosta, S.L.M. Lhermitte, Jan T.M. Lenaerts, Nander Wever
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080845
Antarctic Peninsula Firn densification Foehn effect Larsen C ice shelf Surface melt
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Research Group

Mathematical Geodesy and Positioning

Abstract

Surface meltwater ponding has been implicated as a major driver for recent ice shelf collapse as well as the speedup of tributary glaciers in the northeast Antarctic Peninsula. Surface melt on the NAP is impacted by the strength and frequency of westerly winds, which result in sporadic foehn flow. We estimate changes in the frequency of foehn flow and the associated impact on snow melt, density, and the percolation depth of meltwater over the period 1982–2017 using a regional climate model and passive microwave data. The first of two methods extracts spatial patterns of melt occurrence using empirical orthogonal function analysis. The second method applies the Foehn Index, introduced here to capture foehn occurrence over the full study domain. Both methods show substantial foehn-induced melt late in the melt season since 2015, resulting in compounded densification of the near-surface snow, with potential implications for future ice shelf stability.