Elevation Change of the Southern Greenland Ice Sheet

摘要

Seasat and Geosat satellite altimeter measurements for the Greenland ice sheet (south of 72°N latitude) show that surface elevations above 2000 meters increased at an average rate of only 1.5 ± 0.5 centimeters per year form 1978 to 1988. In contrast, elevation changes varied regionally form -15 to + 18 centimeters per year, seasonally by ± 15 centimeters, and interannually by ± 8 centimeters. The average growth rate is too small to determine if the Greenland ice sheet is undergoing a long-term change due to a warmer polar climate.