The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
TC
Articles | Volume 15, issue 11
Articles | Volume 15, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5205-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5205-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 15, issue 11
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
25 Nov 2021
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 25 Nov 2021

Seasonal evolution of Antarctic supraglacial lakes in 2015–2021 and links to environmental controls

Mariel C. Dirscherl, Andreas J. Dietz, and Claudia Kuenzer

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5205-2021-supplement

Data sets

Antarctica and Greenland Ice Sheet Drainage Basins IMBIE http://imbie.org/imbie-2016/drainage-basins/

The Climate Data Guide: Marshall Southern Annular Mode (SAM) Index (Station-based) G. J. Marshall https://climatedataguide.ucar.edu/climate-data/marshall-southern-annular-mode-sam-index-station-based

MEaSUREs Antarctic Boundaries for IPY 2007-2009 from Satellite Radar, Version 2 [Coastline, grounding line data] J. Mouginot, B. Scheuchl, and E. Rignot https://doi.org/10.5067/AXE4121732AD

ERA5-Land hourly data from 1981 to present J. Munoz Sabater https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.e2161bac

Download
Short summary
We provide novel insight into the temporal evolution of supraglacial lakes across six major Antarctic ice shelves in 2015–2021. For Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves, we observe extensive meltwater ponding during the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 summers. Over East Antarctica, lakes were widespread during 2016–2019 and at a minimum in 2020–2021. We investigate environmental controls, revealing lake ponding to be coupled to atmospheric modes, the near-surface climate and the local glaciological setting.
Read more