Abstract
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.