Degree-day factor, energy balance, and the increased melting of the Greenland ice sheet under a warmer climate

Abstract

Ablation on the Greenland ice Sheet can be calculated either from the degree-day factor or by an energy balance model. Both approaches involve problems. i.e. the degree-day factor varies with time and space while the energy balance model requires data which are often not available. The solution is to understand, and possibly predict variations in degree-day factor. This can be attempted by (1) sensitivity experiments with the energy balance model, and (2) field samples of ablation under widely varying climatic conditions.