Publications related to the GRACE Missions (no abstracts)

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Impact of Heterogeneous Mantle Viscosity on the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment Correction for GRACE(–FO): Implications for Surface Mass Trends

Hightower, E., Caron, L., Landerer, F., Watkins, M., Ivins, E., and Larour, E., 2026. Impact of Heterogeneous Mantle Viscosity on the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment Correction for GRACE(–FO): Implications for Surface Mass Trends. Journal of Geophysical Research (Solid Earth), 131(8):e2026JB033791, doi:10.1029/2026JB033791.

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@ARTICLE{2026JGRB..13133791H,
       author = {{Hightower}, E. and {Caron}, L. and {Landerer}, F. and {Watkins}, M. and {Ivins}, E. and {Larour}, E.},
        title = "{Impact of Heterogeneous Mantle Viscosity on the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment Correction for GRACE(-FO): Implications for Surface Mass Trends}",
      journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research (Solid Earth)},
     keywords = {GRACE, satellite gravimetry, glacial isostatic adjustment, viscosity, mantle heterogeneity, surface mass change},
         year = 2026,
        month = aug,
       volume = {131},
       number = {8},
          eid = {e2026JB033791},
        pages = {e2026JB033791},
     abstract = "{Accurate interpretation of time--variable gravity from GRACE (--FO)
        requires correction for glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA),
        which has a gravitational signal similar in magnitude to that of
        contemporary hydrological and cryospheric mass change.
        Traditional GIA models used to correct space gravimetry data
        assume a radially symmetric mantle viscosity structure, ignoring
        the 3D structure evident in seismic tomography. We quantify the
        sensitivity of GRACE--derived surface mass trends to laterally
        heterogeneous mantle viscosity by computing a suite of global
        GIA models using the finite--element code CitcomSVE. We utilize
        3D viscosity fields derived from tomography and two commonly
        used ice--loading histories, systematically increasing
        heterogeneity about their associated radial viscosity profiles.
        GIA solutions are converted to GRACE--compatible Stokes
        coefficients and equivalent water height to recompute GRACE mass
        trends. While global mean ocean and Greenland ice mass trends
        are weakly affected, regional terrestrial water storage and
        ocean mass patterns exhibit large and spatially coherent
        changes. 3D GIA corrections lead to significantly more drying
        conditions in Canada and slightly more drying conditions
        throughout most land--masses, can lead to a reduction in the
        long--term rate of ice mass loss in Antarctica, and can reverse
        the ocean mass trend in key ocean basins. Models combining
        elevated lower--mantle viscosity with strong lateral
        heterogeneity eliminate problematic GRACE ocean anomalies in the
        eastern North Atlantic and potentially resolve the disagreement
        between GIA-- and geodynamics--derived estimates of mantle
        viscosity. Our results demonstrate that realistic 3D viscosity
        is essential for quantifying and reducing GIA--related
        uncertainty in GRACE interpretations, improving confidence in
        inferred surface mass changes.}",
          doi = {10.1029/2026JB033791},
       adsurl = {https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026JGRB..13133791H},
      adsnote = {Provided by the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System}
}

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