January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Niño

Julien P. Nicolas; Andrew M. Vogelmann; Ryan C. Scott; Aaron B. Wilson; Maria P. Cadeddu; David H. Bromwich; Johannes Verlinde; Dan Lubin; Lynn M. Russell; Colin Jenkinson; Heath H. Powers; Maciej Ryczek; Gregory Stone; Jonathan D. Wille

doi:10.1038/ncomms15799

January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Niño

Julien P. Nicolas, Andrew M. Vogelmann, Ryan C. Scott, Aaron B. Wilson, Maria P. Cadeddu, David H. Bromwich, Johannes Verlinde, Dan Lubin, Lynn M. Russell, Colin Jenkinson, Heath H. Powers, Maciej Ryczek, Gregory Stone, Jonathan D. Wille

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

133 Scopus citations

Abstract

Over the past two decades the primary driver of mass loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) has been warm ocean water underneath coastal ice shelves, not a warmer atmosphere. Yet, surface melt occurs sporadically over low-lying areas of the WAIS and is not fully understood. Here we report on an episode of extensive and prolonged surface melting observed in the Ross Sea sector of the WAIS in January 2016. A comprehensive cloud and radiation experiment at the WAIS ice divide, downwind of the melt region, provided detailed insight into the physical processes at play during the event. The unusual extent and duration of the melting are linked to strong and sustained advection of warm marine air toward the area, likely favoured by the concurrent strong El Niño event. The increase in the number of extreme El Niño events projected for the twenty-first century could expose the WAIS to more frequent major melt events.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	15799
Journal	Nature communications
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15799
State	Published - Jun 15 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Chemistry
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Physics and Astronomy

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Nicolas, J. P., Vogelmann, A. M., Scott, R. C., Wilson, A. B., Cadeddu, M. P., Bromwich, D. H., Verlinde, J., Lubin, D., Russell, L. M., Jenkinson, C., Powers, H. H., Ryczek, M., Stone, G., & Wille, J. D. (2017). January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Niño. Nature communications, 8, Article 15799. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15799

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title = "January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Ni{\~n}o",

abstract = "Over the past two decades the primary driver of mass loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) has been warm ocean water underneath coastal ice shelves, not a warmer atmosphere. Yet, surface melt occurs sporadically over low-lying areas of the WAIS and is not fully understood. Here we report on an episode of extensive and prolonged surface melting observed in the Ross Sea sector of the WAIS in January 2016. A comprehensive cloud and radiation experiment at the WAIS ice divide, downwind of the melt region, provided detailed insight into the physical processes at play during the event. The unusual extent and duration of the melting are linked to strong and sustained advection of warm marine air toward the area, likely favoured by the concurrent strong El Ni{\~n}o event. The increase in the number of extreme El Ni{\~n}o events projected for the twenty-first century could expose the WAIS to more frequent major melt events.",

author = "Nicolas, {Julien P.} and Vogelmann, {Andrew M.} and Scott, {Ryan C.} and Wilson, {Aaron B.} and Cadeddu, {Maria P.} and Bromwich, {David H.} and Johannes Verlinde and Dan Lubin and Russell, {Lynn M.} and Colin Jenkinson and Powers, {Heath H.} and Maciej Ryczek and Gregory Stone and Wille, {Jonathan D.}",

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doi = "10.1038/ncomms15799",

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AU - Nicolas, Julien P.

AU - Vogelmann, Andrew M.

AU - Scott, Ryan C.

AU - Wilson, Aaron B.

AU - Cadeddu, Maria P.

AU - Bromwich, David H.

AU - Verlinde, Johannes

AU - Lubin, Dan

AU - Russell, Lynn M.

AU - Jenkinson, Colin

AU - Powers, Heath H.

AU - Ryczek, Maciej

AU - Stone, Gregory

AU - Wille, Jonathan D.

PY - 2017/6/15

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N2 - Over the past two decades the primary driver of mass loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) has been warm ocean water underneath coastal ice shelves, not a warmer atmosphere. Yet, surface melt occurs sporadically over low-lying areas of the WAIS and is not fully understood. Here we report on an episode of extensive and prolonged surface melting observed in the Ross Sea sector of the WAIS in January 2016. A comprehensive cloud and radiation experiment at the WAIS ice divide, downwind of the melt region, provided detailed insight into the physical processes at play during the event. The unusual extent and duration of the melting are linked to strong and sustained advection of warm marine air toward the area, likely favoured by the concurrent strong El Niño event. The increase in the number of extreme El Niño events projected for the twenty-first century could expose the WAIS to more frequent major melt events.

AB - Over the past two decades the primary driver of mass loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) has been warm ocean water underneath coastal ice shelves, not a warmer atmosphere. Yet, surface melt occurs sporadically over low-lying areas of the WAIS and is not fully understood. Here we report on an episode of extensive and prolonged surface melting observed in the Ross Sea sector of the WAIS in January 2016. A comprehensive cloud and radiation experiment at the WAIS ice divide, downwind of the melt region, provided detailed insight into the physical processes at play during the event. The unusual extent and duration of the melting are linked to strong and sustained advection of warm marine air toward the area, likely favoured by the concurrent strong El Niño event. The increase in the number of extreme El Niño events projected for the twenty-first century could expose the WAIS to more frequent major melt events.

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January 2016 extensive summer melt in West Antarctica favoured by strong El Niño

Abstract

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