Greenland Ice Mass Loss 2002-2009 Derived From NASA GRACE Gravity Mission
Greenland
Change in Ice Mass Loss Gigatons
Velicogna, Geophysical Research Letters, 2009
•Contributes to sea level rise
J. Wahr, U. Colorado
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2009 NOAA Arctic Report Card
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Backup
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Evidence and Impact of Arctic Warming
Barrow, Alaska +30°F
South Pole -80°F !!
Sea Ice (colored) and Land Ice (white)
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Arctic Sea Ice – Reduced Extent
September 19, 2010
Satellite Record
11.5 % Reduction Per Decade since 1979
B. Holt - JPL
Arctic Sea Ice Thickness Submarine and Satellite Record 1958-2007
•Sea ice thickness shows decadal thinning – over 40 %
•Sea ice – thinning (>40%) and shrinking (11.5% / decade) •Permafrost melting – also releases methane •Land ice melting – sea level change •Loss of sea ice – impacts habitat of polar bears, walruses
Ice / Snow Absorbs 15%
•Increased warming => less ice => more open water => warmer water =>more ice melt and so on
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Arctic and Antarctic Ice as key indicator of climate change
Reference: Kwok & Rothrock, Geophysical Research Letters, 2009
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Land Ice Glaciers, Greenland, Antarctica
~Water stored above sea level
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Climate Change in Earth’s Polar Regions
Ben Holt Oceans-Ice Group Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Arctic Ocean, 1982
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Global Temperature Change Enhanced at Poles
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•Ecosystem shifts – from Arctic to subarctic communities
•Increase human activities – shipping and oil production
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Sources, References
/cryosphere/ http:/research/news /reportcard/
Average 2001-2007 Surface Temperature Change, Relative to the 1951-1980 Average (◦C)
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Sunlight Reflectivity on Ice and Ocean
Sunlight 100 % Reflected 85% Sunlight 100 % Reflected 7%