The historical Greenland Climate Network (GC-Net) curated and augmented level-1 dataset

The Greenland Climate Network (GC-Net) consists of 31 automatic weather stations (AWSs) at 30 sites across the Greenland Ice Sheet. The first site was initiated in 1990, and the project has operated almost continuously since 1995 under the leadership of the late Konrad Steffen. The GC-Net AWS measured air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, downward and reflected shortwave irradiance, net radiation, and ice and firn temperatures. The majority of the GC-Net sites were located in the ice sheet accumulation area (17 AWSs), while 11 AWSs were located in the ablation area, and two sites (three AWSs) were located close to the equilibrium line altitude. Additionally, three AWSs of similar design to the GC-Net AWS were installed by Konrad Steffen's team on the Larsen C ice shelf, Antarctica. After more than 3 decades of operation, the GC-Net AWSs are being decommissioned and replaced by new AWSs operated by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS). Therefore, making a reassessment of the historical GC-Net AWS data is necessary. We present a full reprocessing of the historical GC-Net AWS dataset with increased attention to the filtering of erroneous measurements, data correction and derivation of additional variables: continuous surface height, instrument heights, surface albedo, turbulent heat fluxes, and 10 m ice and firn temperatures. This new augmented GC-Net level-1 (L1) AWS dataset is now available at https://doi.org/10.22008/FK2/VVXGUT (Steffen et al., 2023) and will continue to be refined. The processing scripts, latest data and a data user forum are available at https://github.com/GEUS-Glaciology-and-Climate/GC-Net-level-1-data-processing (last access: 30 November 2023). In addition to the AWS data, a comprehensive compilation of valuable metadata is provided: maintenance reports, yearly pictures of the stations and the station positions through time. This unique dataset provides more than 320 station years of high-quality atmospheric data and is available following FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data and code practices

Rising Oceans Guaranteed: Arctic Land Ice Loss and Sea Level Rise

Purpose of Review: This paper reviews sea level contributions from land ice across the Arctic, including Greenland. We summarize ice loss measurement methods, ice loss mechanisms, and recent observations and projections, and highlight research advances over the last 3–5 years and remaining scientific challenges. Recent Findings: Mass loss across the Arctic began to accelerate during the late twentieth century, with projections of continued loss across all future greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Recent research has improved knowledge of ice hydrology and surface processes, influences of atmospheric and oceanic changes on land ice, and boundary conditions such as subglacial topography. New computer models can also more accurately simulate glacier and ice sheet evolution. Summary: Rapid Arctic ice loss is underway, and future ice loss and sea level rise are guaranteed. Research continues to better understand and model physical processes and to improve projections of ice loss rates, especially after 2050.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Basin-scale partitioning of Greenland ice sheet mass balance components (2007–2011)

The current deficit in Greenland ice sheet mass balance is due to both a decrease in surface mass balance (SMB ) input and an increase in ice discharge (D ) output. While SMB processes are beginning to be well captured by observationally-constrained climate modeling, insight into D is relatively limited. We use InSAR-derived velocities, in combination with ice thickness observations, to quantify the mass flux (F ) across a flux perimeter around the ice sheet at ∼1700 m elevation. To quantify D , we correct F for SMB , as well as changes in volume due to ice dynamics, in the area downstream of the gate. Using a 1961–1990 reference climatology SMB field from the MAR regional climate model, we quantify ice sheet mass balance within eighteen basins. We find a 2007–2011 mean D of View the MathML source. We find a 2007–2011 mean total mass balance of View the MathML source, which is equal to a 0.73 mm yr−1 global sea level rise contribution. This mass loss is dominated by SMB, which accounts for 61% of mass loss in the basins where partitioning is possible

Nanok Expedition: an ice triathlon in Greenland partnering with scientists for climate research

A 450 km crossing of the Greenland ice sheet on skis, over 400 km sea kayak descent along Greenland’s south and west coast and a 600 m vertical climb to open a new climbing route: this is the atypical triathlon led by the two Belgian explorers of Nanok Expedition, Gilles Denis and Nathan Goffart, between April and September 2022. Beyond their sportive objective, their goal was to serve climate research and engage with and communicate to a non-scientific audience about climate research. In partnership with five scientific institutions, they collected unique data and observations of the elevation changes of the ice sheet, as well as rare in situ samples of snow and fjords water to investigate the influence of ice sheet melting on dust input to the ecosystem. The data and samples collected will be analyzed by the universities and research centers. The expedition was documented with a movie “La Traversée” now shared to a general audience on national television and on different university campus. The two explorers are bridging different scientific disciplines (geophysics, geochemistry, glaciology) and bring the science at the table of a non-scientific audience by sharing their passion. Beyond the science, this is a source of inspiration to communicate about the importance of polar regions in the climate system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe