Articles | Volume 18, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2455-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2455-2024
Research article
 | 
17 May 2024
Research article |  | 17 May 2024

Mapping the vertical heterogeneity of Greenland's firn from 2011–2019 using airborne radar and laser altimetry

Anja Rutishauser, Kirk M. Scanlan, Baptiste Vandecrux, Nanna B. Karlsson, Nicolas Jullien, Andreas P. Ahlstrøm, Robert S. Fausto, and Penelope How

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Cited articles

Braithwaite, R. J., Laternser, M., and Pfeffer, W. T.: Variations of near-surface firn density in the lower accumulation area of the Greenland ice sheet, Pâkitsoq, West Greenland, J. Glaciol., 40, 477–485, https://doi.org/10.3189/s002214300001234x, 1994. 
Brils, M., Kuipers Munneke, P., van de Berg, W. J., and van den Broeke, M.: Improved representation of the contemporary Greenland ice sheet firn layer by IMAU-FDM v1.2G, Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 7121–7138, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-7121-2022, 2022. 
Brown, J., Harper, J., Pfeffer, W. T., Humphrey, N., and Bradford, J.: High-resolution study of layering within the percolation and soaked facies of the Greenland ice sheet, Ann. Glaciol., 52, 35–42, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756411799096286, 2011. 
Chan, K., Grima, C., Rutishauser, A., Young, D. A., Culberg, R., and Blankenship, D. D.: Spatial characterization of near-surface structure and meltwater runoff conditions across the Devon Ice Cap from dual-frequency radar reflectivity, The Cryosphere, 17, 1839–1852, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1839-2023, 2023. 
Colliander, A., Mousavi, M., Kimball, J. S., Miller, J. Z., and Burgin, M.: Spatial and temporal differences in surface and subsurface meltwater distribution over Greenland ice sheet using multi-frequency passive microwave observations, Remote Sens. Environ., 295, 113705, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2023.113705, 2023. 
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Short summary
The Greenland Ice Sheet interior is covered by a layer of firn, which is important for surface meltwater runoff and contributions to global sea-level rise. Here, we combine airborne radar sounding and laser altimetry measurements to delineate vertically homogeneous and heterogeneous firn. Our results reveal changes in firn between 2011–2019, aligning well with known climatic events. This approach can be used to outline firn areas primed for significantly changing future meltwater runoff.
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