The dependence of antarctic accumulation rates on surface temperature and elevation

Abstract

A study of antarctic accumulaton, surface temperature and elevation data reveals a strong correlation between the accumulation rate and the surface temperature which, in turn, is almost uniquely determined by the elevation of the ice sheet surface. The latitudinal temperature gradient seems to play a relatively minor rôle. The dependence of the accumulation rate on surface temperature and elevation is, to a very good approximation, linear. Based on our own and Robin's results, we propose two parameterizations of the accumulation rate for use in simple one-dimensional paleoclimatic models.