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More Mass Balance Results for the Greenland Ice Sheet
Reference
Thomas, R., Akins, T., Csatho, B., Fahnestock, M., Gogineni, P., Kim, C. and Sonntag, J.  2000.  Mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet at high elevations. Science 289: 426-428.

What was done
The authors compared estimates of ice discharge from the higher elevations of the Greenland Ice Sheet - derived from ice motions inferred from Global Positioning System measurements made between 1993 and 1997 - with total snow accumulation estimates to derive estimates of ice thickening rates over the past few decades.

What was learned
In the words of the authors, "within the errors of our measurements, the higher elevation parts of the ice sheet have been almost exactly in balance when considered as a whole and as northern and southern parts."

What it means
Things seem pretty normal up on the Greenland Ice Sheet, with no perceptible change in ice thickness over the past few decades, which is only to be expected in view of the relatively stable climate experienced there over this period.


Reviewed 26 July 2000