Analysis of a GRACE global mascon solution for Gulf of Alaska glaciers
Journal of Glaciology
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Abstract
We present a high-resolution Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mascon solution for Gulf of Alaska (GOA) glaciers and compare this with in situ glaciological, climate and other remote-sensing observations. Our GRACE solution yields a GOA glacier mass balance of –65 ± 11 Gt a–1 for the period December 2003 to December 2010, with summer balances driving the interannual variability. Between October/November 2003 and October 2009 we obtain a mass balance of –61 ± 11 Gt a–1 from GRACE, which compares well with –65 ± 12 Gt a–1 from ICESat based on hypsometric extrapolation of glacier elevation changes. We find that mean summer (June–August) air temperatures derived from both ground and lower-troposphere temperature records were good predictors of GRACE-derived summer mass balances, capturing 59% and 72% of the summer balance variability respectively. Large mass losses during 2009 were likely due to low early melt season surface albedos, measured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and likely associated with the 31 March 2009 eruption of Mount Redoubt, southwestern Alaska. GRACE data compared well with in situ measurements at Wolverine Glacier (maritime Alaska), but poorly with those at Gulkana Glacier (interior Alaska). We conclude that, although GOA mass estimates from GRACE are robust over the entire domain, further constraints on subregional and seasonal estimates are necessary to improve fidelity to ground observations.
Suggested Citation
Arendt, A., Luthcke, S., Gardner, A., O’Neel, S., Hill, D., Moholdt, G., Abdalati, W., 2013, Analysis of a GRACE global mascon solution for Gulf of Alaska glaciers: Journal of Glaciology, v. 59, no. 217, p. 913-924, https://doi.org/10.3189/2013JoG12J197.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Analysis of a GRACE global mascon solution for Gulf of Alaska glaciers |
| Series title | Journal of Glaciology |
| DOI | 10.3189/2013JoG12J197 |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue | 217 |
| Publication Date | July 10, 2017 |
| Year Published | 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | International Glaciological Society |
| Publisher location | Cambridge, UK |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center |
| Description | 12 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Glaciology |
| First page | 913 |
| Last page | 924 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Other Geospatial | Gulf Of Alaska;Gulkana Glacier;Mount Redoubt;Wolverine Glacier |