East Antarctic landfast sea-ice distribution and variability ...

• Main Author: Fraser, AD
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Weddell; Antarc*; Emperor penguins; Ice Sheet; Ice Shelves; Iceberg*; Sea ice; Weddell Seals
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23210714; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/East_Antarctic_landfast_sea-ice_distribution_and_variability/23210714

Landfast sea ice (sea ice which is held fast to the coast or grounded icebergs, also known as fast ice) is a pre-eminent feature of the Antarctic coastal zone, where it forms an important interface between the ice sheet and pack ice/ocean to exert a major influence on high-latitude atmosphere-ocean interaction and biological processes. It is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change, given that its formation and breakup are intimately associated with oceanic and atmospheric forcing, yet is not currently represented in global climate models or coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice models. Fast ice forms a key breeding habitat for a number of iconic species, including Weddell seals and Emperor penguins, and plays a crucial role in the breeding success and foraging behaviour of Ad´elie penguins. Recent work further suggests that fast ice may stabilize floating glacier tongues and ice shelves, to affect iceberg calving and ultimately the mass balance of the ice sheet plus the drift rates of icebergs. ...