Brief Communication: Rapid acceleration of the Brunt Ice Shelf after calving of iceberg A-81

• Main Authors: Marsh, Oliver J., Luckman, Adrian J., Hodgson, Dominic A.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Brunt Ice Shelf; McDonald Ice Rumples; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Shelf
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1949; https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-1949/

The Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica, accelerated rapidly from 900 m a -1 to 1500 m a -1 during six months following the calving of a 1500 km 2 iceberg on 22 nd January 2023. Initially, the rate of acceleration increased by a factor of ten, with a second, smaller calving at the end of June 2023 leading to further tripling of acceleration. The acceleration is caused by reduction of buttressing at the McDonald Ice Rumples due to loss of contact with the sea floor and has led to high strain rates to the south, with potential consequences for the stability of the remaining ice shelf.