21st-Century Evolution of Greenland Outlet Glacier Velocities

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Abstract
Earlier observations on several of Greenland\textquoterights outlet glaciers, starting near the turn of the 21st century, indicated rapid (annual-scale) and large (>100\%) increases in glacier velocity. Combining data from several satellites, we produce a decade-long (2000 to 2010) record documenting the ongoing velocity evolution of nearly all (200+) of Greenland\textquoterights major outlet glaciers, revealing complex spatial and temporal patterns. Changes on fast-flow marine-terminating glaciers contrast with steady velocities on ice-shelf\textendashterminating glaciers and slow speeds on land-terminating glaciers. Regionally, glaciers in the northwest accelerated steadily, with more variability in the southeast and relatively steady flow elsewhere. Intraregional variability shows a complex response to regional and local forcing. Observed acceleration indicates that sea level rise from Greenland may fall well below proposed upper bounds.
Year of Publication
2012
Journal
Science
Volume
336
Number of Pages
576-578
Date Published
05/2012
ISSN Number
1095-9203
DOI
10.1126/science.1219985
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