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Publication Abstracts

Carlson et al. 2009

Carlson, A.E., F.S. Anslow, E.A. Obbink, A.N. LeGrande, D.J. Ullman, and J.M. Licciardi, 2009: Surface-melt driven Laurentide ice-sheet retreat during the early Holocene. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L24502, doi:10.1029/2009GL040948.

To better understand mechanisms of ice-sheet decay, we investigate the surface mass balance of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) during the early Holocene, a period of known rapid LIS retreat. We use a surface energy-mass balance model (EMBM) driven with conditions derived from an equilibrium atmosphere-ocean general circulation model 9 kilo-years ago simulation. Our EMBM indicates a net LIS surface mass balance of - 0.67±0.13 m/yr, with losses primarily due to enhanced boreal summer insolation and warmer summers. This rate of loss compared to LIS volume reconstructions suggests that surface ablation accounted for 74±22% of the LIS mass loss with the remaining loss likely driven by dynamics resulting in basal sliding and calving. Thus surface melting likely played a governing role in the retreat and disappearance of this ice sheet.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{ca06220z,
  author={Carlson, A. E. and Anslow, F. S. and Obbink, E. A. and LeGrande, A. N. and Ullman, D. J. and Licciardi, J. M.},
  title={Surface-melt driven Laurentide ice-sheet retreat during the early Holocene},
  year={2009},
  journal={Geophysical Research Letters},
  volume={36},
  pages={L24502},
  doi={10.1029/2009GL040948},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - ca06220z
AU  - Carlson, A. E.
AU  - Anslow, F. S.
AU  - Obbink, E. A.
AU  - LeGrande, A. N.
AU  - Ullman, D. J.
AU  - Licciardi, J. M.
PY  - 2009
TI  - Surface-melt driven Laurentide ice-sheet retreat during the early Holocene
JA  - Geophys. Res. Lett.
JO  - Geophysical Research Letters
VL  - 36
SP  - L24502
DO  - 10.1029/2009GL040948
ER  -

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