Partitioning the drivers of Antarctic glacier mass balance (2003-2020) using satellite observations and a regional climate model

Abstract

We investigate the mass changes of Antarctic glaciers from 2003 to 2020, partitioning them into the contributions of surface mass balance (SMB) and ice discharge, using high-resolution ice mass change estimates derived from the combination of two different types of satellite observations (gravimetry and altimetry) and outputs from a regional climate model. Our analysis indicates that changes in ice discharge have played a dominant role in ongoing ice mass trends and their accelerations, especially in glaciers near the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas in West Antarctica. In particular, mass losses of the Thwaites and Pine Island Glaciers have been mostly (>90%) controlled by ice discharge, while the contribution of SMB has been relatively minor. In East Antarctica, SMB accounts for significant portions (>50%) of ice mass imbalances of glaciers in e.g., Dronning Maud Land and Wilkes Land. Ice discharge has also played a notable role in overall mass gain in the region. While our ice discharge estimates agree well with previous estimates from satellite imagery in West Antarctica, notable differences are found in glaciers of East Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula. This highlights the need for more observations and improved numerical models to refine these estimates.