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Satellite‐based estimates of Antarctic surface meltwater fluxes

This study generates novel satellite‐derived estimates of Antarctic‐wide annual (1999–2009) surface meltwater production using an empirical relationship between radar backscatter from the QuikSCAT (QSCAT) satellite and melt calculated from in situ energy balance observations. The resulting QSCAT‐derived melt fluxes significantly agree with output from the regional climate model RACMO2.1 and with independent ground‐based observations. The high‐resolution (4.45 km) QSCAT‐based melt fluxes uniquely detect interannually persistent and intense melt (>400 mm water equivalent (w.e.) year−1) on interior Larsen C Ice Shelf that is not simulated by RACMO2.1. This supports a growing understanding of the importance of a föhn effect in this region and quantifies the resulting locally enhanced melting that is spatially consistent with recently observed Larsen C thinning. These new results highlight important cryosphere‐climate interactions and processes that are presently not fully captured by the coarser‐resolution (27 km) regional climate model.