Seasonal variation of ice ablation at the margin of the Greenland ice sheet and its sensitivity to climate change, Qamanarssup sermia, West Greenland

Monthly ice ablation was measured at the margin of the Greenland ice sheet for June, July and August over 7 years (1980-86). The total winter ablation (September-May) has also been measured, and a simple ablation-temperature model used to assign ablation values to individual months. Under the present climate, the most ablation occurred in June-August (on average 81% of annual ablation), moderate ablation took place in May and September (17%) and very little ablation occurred in October-April (2%). The effect of climate change on ice ablation is simulated using the ablation model to recalculate ablation for higher temperatures. The difference in annual ice ablation caused by future climate change will depend upon the seasonal distribution of the temperature change. Changes in precipitation and accumulation will further modify the seasonal variation of ablation. -from Authors