The Cryosphere

Patagonia Icefield melting observed by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)

  1. J. L. Chen1,
  2. C. R. Wilson1,2,
  3. B. D. Tapley1,
  4. D. D. Blankenship3,
  5. E. R. Ivins4

Article first published online: 17 NOV 2007

DOI: 10.1029/2007GL031871

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Chen, J. L., C. R. Wilson, B. D. Tapley, D. D. Blankenship, and E. R. Ivins (2007), Patagonia Icefield melting observed by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L22501, doi:10.1029/2007GL031871.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA

  3. 3

    Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA

  4. 4

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 17 NOV 2007
  2. Article first published online: 17 NOV 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 22 OCT 2007
  4. Manuscript Revised: 15 OCT 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 30 AUG 2007

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (394K)

Keywords:

  • GRACE;
  • gravity change;
  • Patagonia Icefield;
  • ice melting

[1] Using recently released reprocessed gravity solutions from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), we estimate the ice loss rate for the Patagonia Icefield (PIF) of South America, for the period April 2002 through December 2006. After postglacial rebound and hydrological effects are corrected, the estimated rate is −27.9 ± 11 km3/year, equivalent to an average loss of ∼−1.6 m/year ice thickness change if evenly distributed over the entire PIF area. The estimated contribution to global sea level rise is 0.078 ± 0.031 mm/year. This is an independent confirmation of relatively large melting rate estimates from earlier studies employing topographic and cartographic data.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (394K)