Brief communication: widespread potential for seawater infiltration on Antarctic ice shelves

• Published in: The Cryosphere
• Main Authors: S. Cook, B. K. Galton-Fenzi, S. R. M. Ligtenberg, R. Coleman
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2018
• Subjects: envir; geo; Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Shelves; Iceberg*; The Cryosphere
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3853-2018; https://www.the-cryosphere.net/12/3853/2018/tc-12-3853-2018.pdf; https://doaj.org/article/c45d2c1dadd448c7894b870bccc3050f

Antarctica's future contribution to sea level change depends on the fate of its fringing ice shelves. One factor which may affect the rate of iceberg calving from ice shelves is the presence of liquid water, including the percolation of seawater into permeable firn layers. Here, we present evidence that most ice shelves around Antarctica have regions where permeable firn exists below sea level. We find that seawater infiltration into ice shelves may be much more widespread in Antarctica than previously recognised. Finally, we identify the locations where seawater infiltration is most likely to occur, with the intention that the results may be used to direct future radar studies.