Antarctic Elevation Change from 1992 to 1996

Abstract

Satellite radar altimeter measurements show that the average elevation of the Antarctic Ice Sheet interior fell by 0.9 +/- 0.5 centimeters per year from 1992 to 1996. If the variability of snowfall observed in Antarctic ice cores is allowed for, the mass imbalance of the interior this century is only -0.06 +/- 0.08 of the mean mass accumulation rate.