The role of subglacial hydrology in Antarctic ice sheet dynamics and stability: a modelling perspective

• Published in: Annals of Glaciology
• Main Author: Christine F. Dow
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic glaciology; glacier hydrology; ice-sheet modelling; subglacial processes; Meteorology. Climatology; QC851-999; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Annals of Glaciology; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Sheet; Ice Shelf
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.9; https://doaj.org/article/30cc6d7e0c674462a844d8c6d9ccfb05

Subglacial hydrology is an important component of the ice dynamic system in Antarctica but is challenging to investigate due to the large spatial scales of the catchment systems, the ice thickness, and remote location. Here I discuss key discoveries about Antarctic subglacial hydrology from the Glacier Drainage System (GlaDS) model, including the presence of long, often high-pressure, subglacial channels. These channels pump tens of cubic metres per second of freshwater into ice-shelf cavities and directly affect melt rates at the critical grounding zone regions. Future ice dynamics and ice-shelf cavity models should take subglacial hydrology into account if they are to accurately predict future behaviour of the Antarctic Ice Sheet.