Ocean circulation and sea-ice distribution changes induced by an increased melting rate under the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf

• Main Author: Patilea, Catalin
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Antarctic; Ronne Ice Shelf; The Antarctic; Weddell; Weddell Sea; Antarc*; Filchner Ronne Ice Shelf; Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf; Ice Shelf; Ice Shelves; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/36995/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/36995/1/patil2014mt.pdf; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.44989; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.44989.d001

The Finite Element Sea-ice Ocean Model (FESOM) is being utilized with a high resolution mesh focused on the Antarctic marginal seas and ice shelves to investigate the changes induced in ocean circulation and sea ice distribution by prescribing increased melt rates for the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf (FRIS). The increased freshwater received by the Weddell Sea leads to higher strati�cation, reducing convection and leading to less freshwater reaching the bottom layers. Sea ice distribution changes in the Weddell Sea with higher concentration and thickness along the peninsula during summer while during winter maximum, sea ice volume is increased over a large area in the Weddell Sea. Increased surface freshening and water column stability inhibits convection which reduces the Weddell Gyre transport and increases bottom layer potential temperature, bringing down Antarctic Bottom Water formation.