Hot rocks in a cold place: high sub-glacial heat flow in East Antarctica

• Main Authors: Carson, Chris J., McLaren, Sandra, Roberts, Jason L., Boger, Steven D., Blankenship, Donald D.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Geological Society of London 2016
• Subjects: Geology; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Antarctic; East Antarctica; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3453554; https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Hot_rocks_in_a_cold_place_high_sub-glacial_heat_flow_in_East_Antarctica/3453554

Numerical models are the primary predictive tools for understanding the dynamic behaviour of the Antarctic ice sheet. However, a key boundary parameter, sub-glacial heat flow, remains poorly constrained. We show that variations in abundance and distribution of heat-producing elements within the Antarctic continental crust result in greater and more variable regional sub-glacial heat flows than currently assumed in ice modelling studies. Such elevated heat flows would have a fundamental effect on ice sheet behaviour and highlight that geological controls on heat flow must be considered to obtain more accurate and refined predictions of ice mass balance and sea-level change.