Positive Mass Balance of the Ross Ice Streams, West Antarctica
- 18 January 2002
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 295 (5554) , 476-480
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1066875
Abstract
We have used ice-flow velocity measurements from synthetic aperture radar to reassess the mass balance of the Ross Ice Streams, West Antarctica. We find strong evidence for ice-sheet growth (+26.8 gigatons per year), in contrast to earlier estimates indicating a mass deficit (−20.9 gigatons per year). Average thickening is equal to ∼25% of the accumulation rate, with most of this growth occurring on Ice Stream C. Whillans Ice Stream, which was thought to have a significantly negative mass balance, is close to balance, reflecting its continuing slowdown. The overall positive mass balance may signal an end to the Holocene retreat of these ice streams.Keywords
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