The Cryosphere www.the-cryosphere.net 1994-0416 1994-0424 4 2 2010 10.5194/tc-4-179-2010 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/4/179/2010/ http://www.the-cryosphere.net/4/179/2010/tc-4-179-2010.html http://www.the-cryosphere.net/4/179/2010/tc-4-179-2010.pdf 179 190 2010-05-10 Modelling snowdrift sublimation on an Antarctic ice shelf J. T. M. Lenaerts j.lenaerts@uu.nl M. R. van den Broeke S. J. Déry G. König-Langlo J. Ettema P. K. Munneke Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada Alfred Wegener Institüt für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany In this paper, we estimate the contribution of snowdrift sublimation (SU_ds) to the surface mass balance at Neumayer, located on the Ekström ice shelf in Eastern Antarctica. A single column version of the RACMO2-ANT model is used as a physical interpolation tool of high-quality radiosonde and surface measurements for a 15-yr period (1993–2007), and combined with a routine to calculate snowdrift sublimation and horizontal snow transport. The site is characterised by a relatively mild, wet and windy climate, so snowdrift is a common phenomenon. The modelled timing and frequency of snowdrift events compares well with observations. This is further illustrated by an additional simulation for Kohnen base, where the timing of snowdrift is realistic, although the modelled horizontal transport is overestimated. Snowdrift sublimation is mainly dependent on wind speed, but also on relative humidity and temperature. During high wind speeds, SU_ds saturates and cools the air, limiting its own strength. We estimate that SU_ds removes around 16%±8% of the accumulated snow from the surface. 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