[en] Regional climate models (RCMs) are suitable numerical tools to study the surface mass
balance (SMB) of the wide polar ice sheets due to their high spatial resolution and polaradapted
physics. Nonetheless, RCMs are driven at their boundaries and over the ocean by
reanalysis or global climate model (GCM) products and are thus influenced by potential biases
in these largescale fields. These biases can be significant for both the atmosphere and the sea
surface conditions (i.e. sea ice concentration and sea surface temperature). With the RCM
MAR, a set of sensitivity experiments has been realized to assess the direct response of the
SMB of the Antarctic ice sheet to oceanic perturbations. MAR is forced by ERAInterim and
anomalies based on mean GCM biases are introduced in sea surface conditions. Results show
significant increases (decreases) of liquid and solid precipitation due to biases related to warm
(cold) oceans. As precipitation is mainly caused by lowpressure systems that intrude into the
continent and do not penetrate far inland, coastal areas are more sensitive than inland regions.
Furthermore, warm ocean representative biases lead to anomalies as large as anomalies
simulated by other RCMs or GCMs for the end of the 21st century.
Disciplines :
Sciences de la terre & géographie physique
Auteur, co-auteur :
Kittel, Christoph ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géographie > Climatologie et Topoclimatologie
Langue du document :
Anglais
Titre :
Sensitivity of the Antarctic surface mass balance to oceanic perturbations
Date de publication/diffusion :
14 septembre 2017
Nom de la manifestation :
The 2d MAR workshop
Organisateur de la manifestation :
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement
Lieu de la manifestation :
Grenoble, France
Date de la manifestation :
from 13-09-2017 to 15-09-2017
Manifestation à portée :
International
Tags :
CÉCI : Consortium des Équipements de Calcul Intensif
Organisme subsidiant :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] CÉCI - Consortium des Équipements de Calcul Intensif [BE]