Accelerating ice loss from peripheral glaciers in North Greenland

In recent decades, Greenland’s peripheral glaciers have experienced
large-scale mass loss, resulting in a substantial contribution to
sea-level rise. Only 4% of Greenland’s ice cover are small peripheral
glaciers that are distinct from the ice sheet proper. Despite comprising
this relatively small area, these small peripheral glaciers are
responsible for 11% of the ice loss associated with Greenland’s recent
sea-level rise contribution. Using the satellite laser platforms ICESat
and ICESat-2, we estimate that ice loss from these Greenland glaciers
increased from 27±6 Gt/yr (2003–2009) to 42±6 Gt/yr (2018–2021). Here, we
provide the laser altimetry assessment of changing ice loss rates from
Greenland peripheral glaciers that bridges both the ICESat and ICESat-2
periods of Feb 2003 – Dec 2021. We provide peripheral glaciers elevation
changes including correction for firn compaction, elastic uplift rates
from present-day mass changes, and long-term past ice changes (Glacial
Isostatic Adjustment- GIA). We provide: (1) Mean elevation change rates of
the Greenland peripheral glaciers during, Feb 2003 - Oct 2009, Oct 2008 -
Apr 2019, and Oct 2018 – Dec 2021 obtained from ICESat and ICESat-2 data.
The grid resolution is 500x500 meters. (2) Mean elastic uplift rates of
the bedrock (in mm/yr) due to ice loss during, Feb 2003 - Oct 2009, Oct
2008 - Apr 2019, and Oct 2018 – Dec 2021. (3) Mean firn compaction rates
in m/yr during, Feb 2003 - Oct 2009, Oct 2008 - Apr 2019, and Oct 2018 –
Dec 2021. (4) Glacial Isostatic Adjustment- GIA rates in mm/yr from the
GNET-GIA empirical model of Khan et al. (2016). (5) Time series of mean
surface air temperature in degrees Celcius during May-September in north,
northwest, southeast, southwest, and northwest Greenland from RACMO2.3p2.