Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 10.8
Comparison of the dynamics of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets
The total mass balance is made up of two elements: the surface mass balance (SMB) and
the solid mass (ice) discharge from marine terminating glaciers (producing icebergs). The
SMB is the net mass of ice added or removed (flux) from the surface of the ice by such
processes as snowfall, sublimation and melt runoff but excluding solid removal via gla-
ciers (solid mass discharge). Solid mass discharge begins within the ice sheet. Ice is driven
downwards by gravity into a number of drainage basins that focus the flow either into nar-
row mountain-constrained outlet glaciers or into fast-moving ice streams separated from
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