Antarctic snow accumulation mapped using polarization of 4.3cm wavelength microwave emission

Arthern, Robert J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3762-8219; Winebrenner, Dale P.; Vaughan, David G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9065-0570. 2006 Antarctic snow accumulation mapped using polarization of 4.3cm wavelength microwave emission. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 111 (D6), D06107. 10, pp. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005667

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Abstract/Summary

Different parts of Antarctica receive different amounts of snowfall each year. In this paper we map the variations of the mean annual snow accumulation across the ice sheet. We also quantify the uncertainty in our estimates more objectively than has been possible for earlier maps. The new map is produced using observations from satellites and ground-based measurements. After a logarithmic transformation, these are combined using the geostatistical method of continuous-part universal kriging to give an estimate of the snow accumulation within each cell of a rectangular grid covering Antarctica. We also derive spatial averages over the major drainage systems of the ice sheet, along with their confidence intervals. We obtain a value of 143 ± 4 kg m−2 a−1 for the average rate of snow accumulation upon the grounded ice sheet of Antarctica.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005667
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Global Science in the Antarctic Context (2005-2009) > Glacial Retreat in Antarctica and Deglaciation of the Earth System
ISSN:	2169-8916
Format Availability:	Electronic, Print
Additional Keywords:	Ice sheets
NORA Subject Terms:	Glaciology
Date made live:	17 Aug 2007 13:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/9

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