Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica
ABSTRACT Satellite observations of gravity anomalies, ice-surface elevation and glacier velocity show significant increases in net grounded-ice-mass loss over the past decade along the Bellingshausen Sea sector (BSS), West Antarctica, in areas where warm (>1°C) sea water floods the continental sh...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.24 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143018000242 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/jog.2018.24 2024-06-23T07:47:56+00:00 Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica MINCHEW, BRENT M. GUDMUNDSSON, G. HILMAR GARDNER, ALEX S. PAOLO, FERNANDO S. FRICKER, HELEN A. 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.24 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143018000242 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Journal of Glaciology volume 64, issue 244, page 333-342 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 journal-article 2018 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.24 2024-06-12T04:04:59Z ABSTRACT Satellite observations of gravity anomalies, ice-surface elevation and glacier velocity show significant increases in net grounded-ice-mass loss over the past decade along the Bellingshausen Sea sector (BSS), West Antarctica, in areas where warm (>1°C) sea water floods the continental shelf. These observations provide compelling but indirect evidence that mass losses are driven primarily by reduced buttressing from the floating ice shelves caused by ocean-driven ice-shelf thinning. Here, we combine recent observations of ice velocity, thickness and thickness changes with an ice flow model to study the instantaneous dynamic response of BSS outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning, alone. Our model results show that multiple BSS outlet glaciers respond instantaneously to observed ice-shelf thinning, particularly in areas where ice shelves ground at discrete points. Increases in modeled and observed dynamic mass losses, however, account for ~5% of the mass loss rates estimated from gravity anomalies and changes in ice-surface elevation, suggesting that variations in surface mass balance may be key to understanding recent BSS mass loss. Our approach isolates the impact of ice-shelf thinning on glacier flow and shows that if ice-shelf thinning continues at or above current rates, total BSS mass loss will increase in the next decade. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Bellingshausen Sea Ice Shelf Ice Shelves Journal of Glaciology West Antarctica Cambridge University Press West Antarctica Bellingshausen Sea Journal of Glaciology 64 244 333 342 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
ABSTRACT Satellite observations of gravity anomalies, ice-surface elevation and glacier velocity show significant increases in net grounded-ice-mass loss over the past decade along the Bellingshausen Sea sector (BSS), West Antarctica, in areas where warm (>1°C) sea water floods the continental shelf. These observations provide compelling but indirect evidence that mass losses are driven primarily by reduced buttressing from the floating ice shelves caused by ocean-driven ice-shelf thinning. Here, we combine recent observations of ice velocity, thickness and thickness changes with an ice flow model to study the instantaneous dynamic response of BSS outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning, alone. Our model results show that multiple BSS outlet glaciers respond instantaneously to observed ice-shelf thinning, particularly in areas where ice shelves ground at discrete points. Increases in modeled and observed dynamic mass losses, however, account for ~5% of the mass loss rates estimated from gravity anomalies and changes in ice-surface elevation, suggesting that variations in surface mass balance may be key to understanding recent BSS mass loss. Our approach isolates the impact of ice-shelf thinning on glacier flow and shows that if ice-shelf thinning continues at or above current rates, total BSS mass loss will increase in the next decade. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
MINCHEW, BRENT M. GUDMUNDSSON, G. HILMAR GARDNER, ALEX S. PAOLO, FERNANDO S. FRICKER, HELEN A. |
spellingShingle |
MINCHEW, BRENT M. GUDMUNDSSON, G. HILMAR GARDNER, ALEX S. PAOLO, FERNANDO S. FRICKER, HELEN A. Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica |
author_facet |
MINCHEW, BRENT M. GUDMUNDSSON, G. HILMAR GARDNER, ALEX S. PAOLO, FERNANDO S. FRICKER, HELEN A. |
author_sort |
MINCHEW, BRENT M. |
title |
Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica |
title_short |
Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica |
title_full |
Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
Modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the Bellingshausen Sea Sector, West Antarctica |
title_sort |
modeling the dynamic response of outlet glaciers to observed ice-shelf thinning in the bellingshausen sea sector, west antarctica |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.24 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143018000242 |
geographic |
West Antarctica Bellingshausen Sea |
geographic_facet |
West Antarctica Bellingshausen Sea |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Bellingshausen Sea Ice Shelf Ice Shelves Journal of Glaciology West Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Bellingshausen Sea Ice Shelf Ice Shelves Journal of Glaciology West Antarctica |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 64, issue 244, page 333-342 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.24 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
64 |
container_issue |
244 |
container_start_page |
333 |
op_container_end_page |
342 |
_version_ |
1802638213038211072 |