In situ measurements of ice shelf basal melt rates

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and limitations section and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2013 and 2026, spanning 5 journals. Those papers have been cited 136 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Small meter-scale (1–10 m) spatial variability in snow depth, sea ice properties, ice algal biomass and photobiology (2026) · Polar Biology · doi

  The study identifies a gap in our understanding of the spatial variability of sea ice properties at small spatial scales. Prior studies have focused on larger spatial scales or used optical methods with lower spatial resolution.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: study identifies gap understanding spatial variability sea ice
• Snow depth distributions on sea ice of different ages and thicknesses from regional field campaigns (2026) · ˜The œcryosphere · doi

  The study is limited to data from specific field campaigns and may not be representative of all sea ice conditions. The analysis is based on co-located measurements, which may not capture the full variability of snow depth on sea ice.

  generallimitations sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: study limited data specific field campaigns representative all
• A monthly Arctic sea ice thickness product from 1995 to 2025 using multiple radar altimetry data (2026) · Geo-spatial Information Science · doi

  Long-term variations in Arctic sea ice thickness have received less attention due to the difficulty in measuring sea ice thickness directly by satellite-based instruments. Existing Arctic sea ice thickness products have limitations in terms of accuracy and resolution.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: long-term variations arctic sea ice thickness have received
• Arctic sea‐ice evolution as modeled by Max Planck Institute for Meteorology's Earth system model (2013) · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems · cited 105× · doi

  An evaluation of modeled sea‐ice coverage based on sea‐ice area gives, however, conflicting results compared to an evaluation based on sea‐ice extent and is additionally hindered by uncertainties in the observational record.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: evaluation based modeled coverage area gives conflicting compared extent additionally hindered uncertainties observational record
• Multidecadal Basal Melt Rates and Structure of the Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Using Airborne Ice Penetrating Radar (2020) · Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface · cited 31× · doi

  In situ measurements of ice shelf basal melt rates are sparse, while the more extensive estimates from satellite altimetry require precise information about firn density and characteristics of near‐surface layers.

  generalabstractevidence 4/5
  Keywords: situ measurements shelf basal melt rates sparse extensive estimates satellite altimetry require precise information firn

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