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Flow velocities of Alaskan glaciers

Author

Listed:
  • Evan W. Burgess

    (Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks)

  • Richard R. Forster

    (University of Utah)

  • Christopher F. Larsen

    (Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Abstract

Our poor understanding of tidewater glacier dynamics remains the primary source of uncertainty in sea level rise projections. On the ice sheets, mass lost from tidewater calving exceeds the amount lost from surface melting. In Alaska, the magnitude of calving mass loss remains unconstrained, yet immense calving losses have been observed. With 20% of the global new-water sea level rise coming from Alaska, partitioning of mass loss sources in Alaska is needed to improve sea level rise projections. Here we present the first regionally comprehensive map of glacier flow velocities in Central Alaska. These data reveal that the majority of the regional downstream flux is constrained to only a few coastal glaciers. We find regional calving losses are 17.1 Gt a−1, which is equivalent to 36% of the total annual mass change throughout Central Alaska.

Suggested Citation

  • Evan W. Burgess & Richard R. Forster & Christopher F. Larsen, 2013. "Flow velocities of Alaskan glaciers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-8, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms3146
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3146
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