Articles | Volume 14, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3811-2020
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3811-2020
Research article
 | 
09 Nov 2020
Research article |  | 09 Nov 2020

Recent changes in pan-Antarctic region surface snowmelt detected by AMSR-E and AMSR2

Lei Zheng, Chunxia Zhou, Tingjun Zhang, Qi Liang, and Kang Wang

Data sets

AMSR-E/Aqua Daily EASE-Grid Brightness Temperatures, Version 1 K. Knowles, M. Savoie, R. Armstrong, and M. J. Brodzik https://doi.org/10.5067/XIMNXRTQVMOX

Model code and software

Bootstrap Sea Ice Concentrations from Nimbus-7 SMMR and DMSP SSM/I-SSMIS, Version 3 J. Comiso https://doi.org/10.5067/7Q8HCCWS4I0R

Download
Short summary
Snowmelt plays a key role in mass and energy balance in polar regions. In this study, we report on the spatial and temporal variations in the surface snowmelt over the Antarctic sea ice and ice sheet (pan-Antarctic region) based on AMSR-E and AMSR2. Melt detection on sea ice is improved by excluding the effect of open water. The decline in surface snowmelt on the Antarctic ice sheet was very likely linked with the enhanced summer Southern Annular Mode.