Constraining glacier elevation and mass changes in South America
Braun, M.H.; Malz, P.; Sommer, C.; Farías-Barahona, D.; Sauter, T.; Casassa, G.; Soruco, A.; Skvarca, P.; Seehaus, T.C. (2019). Constraining glacier elevation and mass changes in South America. Nat. Clim. Chang. 9(2): 130-136. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0375-7
In: Nature Climate Change. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 1758-678X; e-ISSN 1758-6798, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Braun, M.H.
- Malz, P.
- Sommer, C.
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- Farías-Barahona, D.
- Sauter, T.
- Casassa, G.
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- Soruco, A.
- Skvarca, P.
- Seehaus, T.C.
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| Abstract |
Excluding the large ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, glaciers in South America are large contributors to sea-level rise. Their rates of mass loss, however, are poorly known. Here, using repeat bi-static synthetic aperture radar interferometry over the years 2000 to 2011/2015, we compute continent-wide, glacier-specific elevation and mass changes for 85% of the glacierized area of South America. Mass loss rate is calculated to be 19.43 ± 0.60 Gt a−1 from elevation changes above ground, sea or lake level, with an additional 3.06 ± 1.24 Gt a−1 from subaqueous ice mass loss not contributing to sea-level rise. The largest contributions come from the Patagonian icefields, where 83% mass loss occurs, largely from dynamic adjustments of large glaciers. These changes contribute 0.054 ± 0.002 mm a−1 to sea-level rise. In comparison with previous studies, tropical and out-tropical glaciers — as well as those in Tierra del Fuego — show considerably less ice loss. These results provide basic information to calibrate and validate glacier-climate models and also for decision-makers in water resource management. |
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