Ice discharge from north and northeast Greenland using ERS data
Abstract
Ice discharge from north and northeast Greenland glaciers was calculated at the grounding line using ERS radar interferometry data acquired during the tandem phase. The resulting estimates exceed the production of icebergs at the glacier fronts by a factor 3.5. This large decrease in ice flux is attributed to extensive melting at the underside of the floating sections. When compared to the predicted grounding line ice discharge of an ice sheet in balance, the results show an excess 28 km3/yr of ice lost to the ocean. The north and northeast sectors of the Greenland Ice Sheet are therefore thinning and contributing positively to sea-level rise.
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