title: Positive mass balance of the Ross Ice Streams, West Antarctica.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Mailstop 300-235, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA. ian@radar-sci.jpl.nasa.gov
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joughin
authors.forename: Slawek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tulaczyk