Solid Earth-cryosphere interaction with a focus on East Antarctica

• Main Authors: Reading, AM, King, M, Jong, L, Warjri, D, Halpin, J, Whittaker, J, Sauermilch, I, Staal, T, Maritati, A, Roberts, J, Phipps, S, Chase, Z, Noble, T, Pesjak, L, Tooze, S
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: . 2018
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Geology; Tectonics; Antarctic; The Antarctic; East Antarctica; Antarc*; Antarctica; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://www.polar2018.org/; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/131206

This contribution focuses on the interplay between the solid Earth and the cryosphere with the aim ofprogressing knowledge of ice extent and retreat history, and Antarcticas contribution to sea level change, viaobservation and modelling. Solid Earth-cryosphere interaction research requires an interdisciplinary approachwhich is facilitated through the Antarctic Gateway Partnership research program centred in Hobart, Tasmania,Australia. New observations are provided through onshore and marine basement rock and sediment sampling,and GPS, seismic and airborne geophysics data collection. These observations are carried out in the context ofice sheet modelling at both basin scale and continental scale. We investigate the Earth deformation, including horizontal motion, associated with ice sheet evolution. Wealso improve constraints on geothermal heat as an ice sheet model input by combining information fromgeological, plate tectonic and geophysical inputs. The present day research findings are placed in the context ofpaleo ice sheet models which consider a coupled ice sheet / ocean / solid Earth framework. With a focus onEast Antarctica, we find that the major ice sheets and their basement catchments behave with contrasting setsof controls. Through our combined approaches, we are better able to constrain model inputs, understand theimpact of uncertainty in model inputs and investigate the impact of feedbacks between Earth systems.