A history of Greenland's ice loss

摘要: Aerial photographs, remote-sensing observations and geological evidence together provide a reconstruction of mass loss from the Greenland Ice Sheet since 1900 — great resource for climate scientists. See Letter p.396 The (GIS) is losing at an accelerating rate, contributing to global sea level rise. But are present rates unusual, compared twentieth-century variability? It has been difficult answer this question because shortage before late twentieth century. Kurt Kjaer colleagues address data gap by analysing collection aerial photographs taken in 1980s. photos reveal both maximum extent ice end Little Age trimlines its position time images were taken. change inferred difference. Incorporating work with modern models, authors show that lost over entire century, but recent rate more than double earlier rates. Most accelerated caused changes surface balance, rather through way sheet moving, which remained approximately constant.