Positive mass balance of the Ross Ice Streams, West Antarctica.
We have used ice-flow velocity measurements from synthetic aperture radar to reassess the mass balance of the Ross Ice Streams, West Antarctica. We find strong evidence for ice-sheet growth (+26.8 gigatons per year), in contrast to earlier estimates indicating a mass deficit (-20.9 gigatons per year). Average thickening is equal to approximately 25% of the accumulation rate, with most of this growth occurring on Ice Stream C. Whillans Ice Stream, which was thought to have a significantly negative mass balance, is close to balance, reflecting its continuing slowdown. The overall positive mass balance may signal an end to the Holocene retreat of these ice streams.
Joughin
Ian
I
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Mailstop 300-235, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA. ian@radar-sci.jpl.nasa.gov
Tulaczyk
Slawek
S