Potential regime shift in decreased sea ice production after the Mertz Glacier calving

Variability in dense shelf water formation can potentially impact Antarctic Bottom Water(AABW) production, a vital component of the global climate system. In East Antarctica, theGeorge V Land polynya system (142150E) is structured by the local icescape, promoting seaice formation that is driven by t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature Communications
Main Authors: Tamura, T, Williams, GD, Fraser, AD, Ohshima, KI
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2012
Subjects:
Earth Sciences
Oceanography
Physical Oceanography
Antarctic
East Antarctica
Mertz Glacier
Antarc*
Antarctica
Iceberg*
Sea ice
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1820
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/78227
Description
Summary:Variability in dense shelf water formation can potentially impact Antarctic Bottom Water(AABW) production, a vital component of the global climate system. In East Antarctica, theGeorge V Land polynya system (142150E) is structured by the local icescape, promoting seaice formation that is driven by the offshore wind regime. Here we present the first observationsof this region after the repositioning of a large iceberg (B9B) precipitated the calving of theMertz Glacier Tongue in 2010. Using satellite data, we find that the total sea ice productionfor the region in 2010 and 2011 was 144 and 134 km 3 , respectively, representing a 1420%decrease from a value of 168 km 3 averaged from 20002009. This abrupt change to theregional icescape could result in decreased polynya activity, sea ice production, and ultimatelythe dense shelf water export and AABW production from this region for the coming decades.

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