L'assimilation de la fonte détectée par les satellites augmente la fonte simulée par MAR sur le secteur d'Amundsen (Antarctique de l’Ouest)

Abstract

Surface melt over the Antarctic ice shelves is one of the largest uncertainties related to sea level rise over the 21st century. However, current climate models still struggle to accurately represent it, limiting our comprehension of processes driving melt spatial and temporal variability and its consequences on the stability of the Antarctic ice sheet. Recent advances in Earth monitoring thanks to satellites have enabled new estimations of Antarctic melt extent. They can detect if and where melt occurs, while the amount of meltwater produced can only be deduced from model simulations. In order to combine advantages of both tools, we present new melt estimates based on a regional climate model assimilating the satellite-derived melt extent. This improves the comparison between model and satellite estimates paving the way for a re-estimation of the amount of melt produced each year on the surface of the entire Antarctic ice sheet.