Choice of observation type affects Bayesian calibration of ice sheet model projections

Felikson, Denis ORCID: 0000-0002-3785-5112, Nowicki, Sophie ORCID: 0000-0001-6328-5590, Nias, Isabel ORCID: 0000-0002-5657-8691, Csatho, Beata, Schenk, Anton, Croteau, Michael ORCID: 0000-0002-9941-6115 and Loomis, Bryant ORCID: 0000-0002-9370-9160 (2022) Choice of observation type affects Bayesian calibration of ice sheet model projections. [Preprint]

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1213

Abstract

<jats:p>Abstract. Determining reliable probability distributions for ice sheet mass change over the coming century is critical to improving uncertainties in sea-level rise projections. Bayesian calibration, a method for constraining projection uncertainty using observations, has been previously applied to ice sheet projections but the impact of the chosen observation type on the calibrated posterior probability distributions has not been quantified. Here, we perform three separate Bayesian calibrations to constrain uncertainty in Greenland Ice Sheet projections using observations of velocity change, dynamic thickness change, and mass change. Comparing the posterior probability distributions shows that the maximum a posteriori ice sheet mass change can differ by 130 % for the particular model ensemble that we used, depending on the observation type used in the calibration. More importantly for risk-averse sea level planning, posterior probabilities of high-end mass change scenarios are highly sensitive to the observation selected for calibration. Finally, we show that using mass change observations alone may result in projections that overestimate flow acceleration and underestimate dynamic thinning around the margin of the ice sheet. </jats:p>

Item Type:	Preprint
Uncontrolled Keywords:	13 Climate Action
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2024 16:52
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2024 16:52
DOI:	10.5194/egusphere-2022-1213
Open Access URL:	https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2022/eg...
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3179713