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Elevation change of the southern greenland ice sheet
1C. H. Davis, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri, 5605 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA. C. A. Kluever, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri, 5605 Troost Avenue, Ka.
Abstract:
Seasat and Geosat satellite altimeter measurements for the Greenland ice sheet (south of 72 degreesN latitude) show that surface elevations above 2000 meters increased at an average rate of only 1. 5 +/- 0.5 centimeters per year from 1978 to 1988. In contrast, elevation changes varied regionally from -15 to +18 centimeters per year, seasonally by +/-15 centimeters, and interannually by +/-8 centimeters. The average growth rate is too small to determine if the Greenland ice sheet is undergoing a long-term change due to a warmer polar climate.