Anomalous Circulation in July 2019 Resulting in Mass Loss on the Greenland Ice Sheet
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Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2020-08-30
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Citation of Original Publication
Cullather, R. I., Andrews, L. C., Croteau, M. J., Digirolamo, N. E., Hall, D. K., Lim, Y.-K., et al. (2020). Anomalous circulation in July 2019 resulting in mass loss on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL087263. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087263
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This work was written as part of one of the author's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.
Public Domain Mark 1.0
Public Domain Mark 1.0
Subjects
Abstract
Current mass loss on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) includes a significant contribution fromsurface runoff. The circumstances associated with melt events are important for understanding the globalsea level contribution of the GrIS. In late July 2019, surface melt occurred over 62% of the GrIS, includingSummit Station. The general circulation leading to the event is found to be dissimilar to 2012 and otherevents documented in the 21st century, with warm air associated with remote atmospheric blocking overwestern Europe eventually transiting west to the GrIS. Gravimetric data indicate that the 2019 summer massloss was 137 Gt more than the 2004–2010 median, or about 92% of the 2012 record. Mass loss during theevent was significant in GrIS northeastern regions in 2019. As compared to 2012, the southwest did not fullyparticipate. Similar circulation patterns have not previously been associated with significant melt.