Short-term glacier area changes, glacier geometry dependence, and regional climatic variations forcing, King George Island, Antarctica

Abstract This study investigates the transient snowline (TSL) altitude for summer 2020, as well as glacial area loss in King George Island Icefields since 1988 using Sentinel-1 and 2 and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery. Trends and anomalies in atmospheric temperature, U-wind, and V-wind were ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
Main Authors: JÚLIA L. LORENZ, KÁTIA K. DA ROSA, CARINA PETSCH, CLEIVA PERONDI, FILIPE D. IDALINO, JEFFREY DANIEL AUGER, ROSEMARY VIEIRA, JEFFERSON C. SIMÕES
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2023
Subjects:
climate change
glacier fluctuations
NDSI
Sentinel
snowline
Science
Q
Bellingshausen Dome
Bransfield Strait
Drake Passage
Keller
Keller peninsula
King George Island
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202320211627
https://doaj.org/article/4bc82243cb014bdfb8fd3c10e4fabcfd
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Summary:Abstract This study investigates the transient snowline (TSL) altitude for summer 2020, as well as glacial area loss in King George Island Icefields since 1988 using Sentinel-1 and 2 and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery. Trends and anomalies in atmospheric temperature, U-wind, and V-wind were examined using ERA5 solutions. Results show the wet-snow zone corresponds to values of ≤ -13dB, and 44.3% of the glacial area is located above the TSL (≥ 300 m). Glacial area for 2020 is 999.95 km², and losses in the period represent 104.9 km² (error <1%) – a retreat of 3.17 km² / year. Glaciers in Keller Peninsula and Bellingshausen Dome lost the most area (28% and 17%, respectively) and did not have a TSL in 2020; followed by Warszawa (15%), Kraków (13%), and Eastern (10%), where the TSL was verified. Percentage area loss values increased with decreases in dimensions, area above TSL, and maximum elevation. Calving glaciers with ice-flow toward deeper and steeper submarine sectors (Bransfield Strait) exhibited greater glacier variations. The trend in warming atmospheric temperature was greater in the Bransfield Strait than in the Drake Passage. TSL and retreat difference between glaciers were influenced by climatic and ocean input, as well as multiple environmental factors.

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