Brief communication: The Glacier Loss Day as an indicator of a record-breaking negative glacier mass balance in 2022 The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-17-3661-2023 25 August 2023 The Glacier Loss Day (GLD) is the day on which all mass gained from the accumulation period is lost, and the glacier loses mass irrecoverably for the rest of the mass balance year. In 2022, the GLD was already reached on 23 June at Hintereisferner (Austria), and this led to a record-breaking mass loss. We introduce the GLD as a gross yet expressive indicator of the glacier’s imbalance with a persistently warming climate. Read more
A rise in HFC-23 emissions from eastern Asia since 2015 Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics DOI 10.5194/acp-23-9401-2023 23 August 2023 Based on atmospheric HFC-23 observations, the first estimate of post-CDM HFC-23 emissions in eastern Asia for 2008-2019 shows that these emissions contribute significantly to the global emissions rise. The observation-derived emissions were much larger than the bottom-up estimates expected to approach zero after 2015 due to national abatement activities. These discrepancies could be attributed to unsuccessful factory-level HFC-23 abatement and inaccurate quantification of emission reductions. HFC-23 emissions from eastern Asia since 2015">Read more
Stagnant ice and age modelling in the Dome C region, Antarctica The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-17-3461-2023 21 August 2023 We combined a numerical model with radar measurements in order to determine the age of ice in the Dome C region of Antarctica. Our results show that at the current ice core drilling sites on Little Dome C, the maximum age of the ice is almost 1.5 Ma. We also highlight a new potential drill site called North Patch with ice up to 2 Ma. Finally, we explore the nature of a stagnant ice layer at the base of the ice sheet which has been independently observed and modelled but is not well understood. Read more
Widespread slowdown in thinning rates of West Antarctic ice shelves The Cryosphere DOI 10.5194/tc-17-3409-2023 18 August 2023 We report on a slowdown in the rate of thinning and melting of West Antarctic ice shelves. We present a comprehensive assessment of the Antarctic ice shelves, where we analyse at a continental scale the changes in thickness, flow, and basal melt over the past 26 years. We also present a novel method to estimate ice shelf change from satellite altimetry and a time-dependent data set of ice shelf thickness and basal melt rates at an unprecedented resolution. Read more
New ring shear deformation apparatus for three-dimensional multiphase experiments: first results Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems DOI 10.5194/gi-12-141-2023 16 August 2023 Multiple geologic hazards, such as landslides and earthquakes, arise when solids and fluids coexist and deform together. We designed an experimental apparatus that allows us to observe such deformation in 3D. The first results show how fluids and solids deform and break at the same time, allowing us to study the impact of both materials on deformation distribution and speed. Making these processes visible has the potential to improve risk assessments associated with geological hazards. Read more
Potential bioavailability of representative pyrogenic organic matter compounds in comparison to natural dissolved organic matter pools Biogeosciences DOI 10.5194/bg-20-3449-2023 14 August 2023 Intensifying wildfires are increasing pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) production and its impact on water quality. Recent work indicates that PyOM may have a greater impact on aquatic biogeochemistry than previously assumed, driven by higher bioavailability. We provide a full assessment of the potential bioavailability of PyOM across its chemical spectrum. We indicate that PyOM can be actively transformed within the river corridor and, therefore, may be a growing source of riverine C emissions. Read more
Drone-based meteorological observations up to the tropopause – a concept study Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-16-3739-2023 11 August 2023 The first atmospheric soundings with an electrically powered small uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) up to an altitude of 10 km are presented and assessed for quality, revealing the potential to augment atmospheric observations and fill observation gaps for numerical weather prediction. This is significant because of the need for high-resolution meteorological data, in particular in remote areas with limited in situ measurements, and for reference data for satellite measurement calibration. Read more
The EarthCARE mission – science and system overview Atmospheric Measurement Techniques DOI 10.5194/amt-16-3581-2023 9 August 2023 The EarthCARE satellite is due for launch in 2024. It includes four scientific instruments to measure global vertical profiles of aerosols, clouds and precipitation properties together with radiative fluxes and derived heating rates. The mission’s scientific requirements, the satellite and the ground segment are described. In particular, the four scientific instruments and their performance are described at the level of detail required by mission data users. Read more
The three-dimensional structure of fronts in mid-latitude weather systems in numerical weather prediction models Geoscientific Model Development DOI 10.5194/gmd-16-4427-2023 7 August 2023 We investigate the benefit of objective 3-D front detection with modern interactive visual analysis techniques for case studies of extra-tropical cyclones and comparisons of frontal structures between different numerical weather prediction models. The 3-D frontal structures show agreement with 2-D fronts from surface analysis charts and augment them in the vertical dimension. We see great potential for more complex studies of atmospheric dynamics and for operational weather forecasting. Read more
DSCIM-Coastal v1.1: an open-source modeling platform for global impacts of sea level rise Geoscientific Model Development DOI 10.5194/gmd-16-4331-2023 4 August 2023 This work presents a novel open-source modelling platform for evaluating future sea level rise (SLR) impacts. Using nearly 10 000 discrete coastline segments around the world, we estimate 21st-century costs for 230 SLR and socioeconomic scenarios. We find that annual end-of-century costs range from USD 100 billion under a 2 °C warming scenario with proactive adaptation to 7 trillion under a 4 °C warming scenario with minimal adaptation, illustrating the cost-effectiveness of coastal adaptation. DSCIM-Coastal v1.1: an open-source modeling platform for global impacts of sea level rise">Read more