Contribution of Atmospheric Rivers to Antarctic Precipitation | CU Experts

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are efficient mechanisms for transporting; atmospheric moisture from low latitudes to the Antarctic Ice Sheet; (AIS). While AR events occur infrequently, they can lead to extreme; precipitation and surface melt events on the AIS. Here we estimate the; contribution of ARs to total Antarctic precipitation, by combining; precipitation from atmospheric reanalyses and an polar-specific AR; detection algorithm. We show that ARs contribute substantially to; Antarctic precipitation, especially on East Antarctica at elevations; below 3000 meters. ARs play a vital role in explaining the substantial; year-to-year variability in Antarctic precipitation. Our results; highlight that ARs are an important component for understanding present; and future Antarctic mass balance trends and variability.

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