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Progress toward globally complete frontal ablation estimates of marine-terminating glaciers
Kochtitzky, W.; Copland, L.; Van Wychen, W.; Hock, R.; Rounce, D.R.; Jiskoot, H.; Scambos, T.A.; Morlighem, M.; King, M.; Cha, L.; Gould, L.; Merrill, P.M.; Glazovsky, A.; Hugonnet, R.; Strozzi, T.; Noel, B.; Navarro, F.; Millan, R.; Dowdeswell, J.A.; Cook, A.; Dalton, A.; Khan, S.; Jania, J. (2022). Progress toward globally complete frontal ablation estimates of marine-terminating glaciers. Ann. Glaciol. 63(87-89): 143-152. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.35
In: Annals of Glaciology. International Glaciological Society: Cambridge. ISSN 0260-3055; e-ISSN 1727-5644, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Antarctic glaciology; arctic glaciology; calving; glacier calving; remote sensing

Authors  Top 
  • Kochtitzky, W.
  • Copland, L.
  • Van Wychen, W.
  • Hock, R.
  • Rounce, D.R.
  • Jiskoot, H.
  • Scambos, T.A.
  • Morlighem, M.
  • King, M.
  • Cha, L.
  • Gould, L.
  • Merrill, P.M.
  • Glazovsky, A.
  • Hugonnet, R.
  • Strozzi, T., more
  • Noel, B., more
  • Navarro, F.
  • Millan, R.
  • Dowdeswell, J.A.
  • Cook, A.
  • Dalton, A.
  • Khan, S.
  • Jania, J.

Abstract
    Knowledge of frontal ablation from marine-terminating glaciers (i.e., mass lost at the calving face) is critical for constraining glacier mass balance, improving projections of mass change, and identifying the processes that govern frontal mass loss. Here, we discuss the challenges involved in computing frontal ablation and the unique issues pertaining to both glaciers and ice sheets. Frontal ablation estimates require numerous datasets, including glacier terminus area change, thickness, surface velocity, density, and climatic mass balance. Observations and models of these variables have improved over the past decade, but significant gaps and regional discrepancies remain, and better quantification of temporal variability in frontal ablation is needed. Despite major advances in satellite-derived large-scale datasets, large uncertainties remain with respect to ice thickness, depth-averaged velocities, and the bulk density of glacier ice close to calving termini or grounding lines. We suggest ways in which we can move toward globally complete frontal ablation estimates, highlighting areas where we need improved datasets and increased collaboration.

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