Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability
Analysis of ICESat-1 data (2003-2008) shows significant surface lowering of Totten Glacier, the glacier discharging the largest volume of ice in East Antarctica, and less change on nearby Moscow University Glacier. After accounting for firn compaction anomalies, the thinning appears to coincide with...
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ftcdlib:oai:escholarship.org:ark:/13030/qt7zq644sh 2023-09-05T13:13:49+02:00 Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability Khazendar, A Schodlok, MP Fenty, I Ligtenberg, SRM Rignot, E van den Broeke, MR 2857 2013-01-01 application/pdf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7zq644sh unknown eScholarship, University of California qt7zq644sh https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7zq644sh CC-BY Nature Communications, vol 4, iss 1 article 2013 ftcdlib 2023-08-21T18:05:05Z Analysis of ICESat-1 data (2003-2008) shows significant surface lowering of Totten Glacier, the glacier discharging the largest volume of ice in East Antarctica, and less change on nearby Moscow University Glacier. After accounting for firn compaction anomalies, the thinning appears to coincide with fast-flowing ice indicating a dynamical origin. Here, to elucidate these observations, we apply high-resolution ice-ocean modelling. Totten Ice Shelf is simulated to have higher, more variable basal melting rates. We link this variability to the volume of cold water, originating in polynyas upon sea ice formation, reaching the sub-ice-shelf cavity. Hence, we propose that the observed increased thinning of Totten Glacier is due to enhanced basal melting caused by a decrease in cold polynya water reaching its cavity. We support this hypothesis with passive microwave data of polynya extent variability. Considering the widespread changes in sea ice conditions, this mechanism could be contributing extensively to ice-shelf instability. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Shelf Sea ice Totten Glacier Totten Ice Shelf University of California: eScholarship East Antarctica Totten Glacier ENVELOPE(116.333,116.333,-66.833,-66.833) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
ftcdlib |
language |
unknown |
description |
Analysis of ICESat-1 data (2003-2008) shows significant surface lowering of Totten Glacier, the glacier discharging the largest volume of ice in East Antarctica, and less change on nearby Moscow University Glacier. After accounting for firn compaction anomalies, the thinning appears to coincide with fast-flowing ice indicating a dynamical origin. Here, to elucidate these observations, we apply high-resolution ice-ocean modelling. Totten Ice Shelf is simulated to have higher, more variable basal melting rates. We link this variability to the volume of cold water, originating in polynyas upon sea ice formation, reaching the sub-ice-shelf cavity. Hence, we propose that the observed increased thinning of Totten Glacier is due to enhanced basal melting caused by a decrease in cold polynya water reaching its cavity. We support this hypothesis with passive microwave data of polynya extent variability. Considering the widespread changes in sea ice conditions, this mechanism could be contributing extensively to ice-shelf instability. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Khazendar, A Schodlok, MP Fenty, I Ligtenberg, SRM Rignot, E van den Broeke, MR |
spellingShingle |
Khazendar, A Schodlok, MP Fenty, I Ligtenberg, SRM Rignot, E van den Broeke, MR Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability |
author_facet |
Khazendar, A Schodlok, MP Fenty, I Ligtenberg, SRM Rignot, E van den Broeke, MR |
author_sort |
Khazendar, A |
title |
Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability |
title_short |
Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability |
title_full |
Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability |
title_fullStr |
Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability |
title_full_unstemmed |
Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability |
title_sort |
observed thinning of totten glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7zq644sh |
op_coverage |
2857 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(116.333,116.333,-66.833,-66.833) |
geographic |
East Antarctica Totten Glacier |
geographic_facet |
East Antarctica Totten Glacier |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Shelf Sea ice Totten Glacier Totten Ice Shelf |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Ice Shelf Sea ice Totten Glacier Totten Ice Shelf |
op_source |
Nature Communications, vol 4, iss 1 |
op_relation |
qt7zq644sh https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7zq644sh |
op_rights |
CC-BY |
_version_ |
1776204969240690688 |