A Lagrangian analysis of the dynamical and thermodynamic drivers of large-scale Greenland melt events during 1979–2017

Hermann, Mauro; Papritz, Lukas; Wernli, Heini

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-1-497-2020

Articles | Volume 1, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-1-497-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-1-497-2020

© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 1, issue 2

Research article

|

29 Sep 2020

Research article |

| 29 Sep 2020

A Lagrangian analysis of the dynamical and thermodynamic drivers of large-scale Greenland melt events during 1979–2017

Mauro Hermann, Lukas Papritz, and Heini Wernli

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https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-1-497-2020-supplement

Data sets

ERA-Interim European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts https://apps.ecmwf.int/datasets/data/interim-full-daily/levtype=sfc/

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We find, by tracing backward in time, that air masses causing extensive melt of the Greenland Ice Sheet originate from further south and lower altitudes than usual. Their exceptional warmth further arises due to ascent and cloud formation, which is special compared to near-surface heat waves in the midlatitudes or the central Arctic. The atmospheric systems and transport pathways identified here are crucial in understanding and simulating the atmospheric control of the ice sheet in the future.