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.
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Year of Publication |
2012
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Journal |
Science
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Volume |
336
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Number of Pages |
576-578
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Date Published |
05/2012
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ISSN Number |
1095-9203
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DOI |
10.1126/science.1219985
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