Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Ice fluxes across the grounding zone affect global ice-sheet mass loss and sea level rise. Although recent changes in ice fluxes are well constrained by remote sensing, future projections remain uncertain, because key environments affecting...
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ftzbmed:oai:frl.publisso.de:frl:6442434 2023-11-12T04:05:07+01:00 Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity Owsianowski, Nils Richter, Claudio 2021 https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl:6442434 https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00166-y eng eng https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl:6442434 https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00166-y https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://lobid.org/resources/99370686607206441#!, 2(1):99 Cryospheric science Article Marine biology Physical oceanography Environmental impact Zeitschriftenartikel 2021 ftzbmed https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00166-y 2023-10-22T22:06:50Z <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Ice fluxes across the grounding zone affect global ice-sheet mass loss and sea level rise. Although recent changes in ice fluxes are well constrained by remote sensing, future projections remain uncertain, because key environments affecting ice-sheet dynamics – the ice-sheet bed and grounding zone – are largely unknown. Here, we used a remotely operated vehicle to explore the grounding zone of a Weddell Sea tidewater ice cliff. At 148 m we found a 0.3–0.5 m gap between the ice and the seafloor and a 0.4 m clear facies of debris- and bubble-free basal ice, suggesting freeze-on of meltwater in the distal marine portion of the ice sheet over the last 400 yr. Ploughmarks and low epifauna cover reveal recent grounding line retreat, as corroborated by satellite remote sensing. We found dense algal tufts on the ice cliff and high phytoplankton pigment concentrations, suggesting high productivity fuelled by nutrients from ice melt. As grounded tidewater ice cliffs rim 38% of the Antarctic continent, sinking and downwelling of organic matter along with low benthic turnover may contribute to enhanced carbon sequestration, providing a potentially important feedback to climate.</jats:p> Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet Weddell Sea PUBLISSO Fachrepositorium Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) Antarctic The Antarctic Weddell Sea Weddell Communications Earth & Environment 2 1 |
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Open Polar |
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PUBLISSO Fachrepositorium Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) |
op_collection_id |
ftzbmed |
language |
English |
topic |
Cryospheric science Article Marine biology Physical oceanography Environmental impact |
spellingShingle |
Cryospheric science Article Marine biology Physical oceanography Environmental impact Owsianowski, Nils Richter, Claudio Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity |
topic_facet |
Cryospheric science Article Marine biology Physical oceanography Environmental impact |
description |
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Ice fluxes across the grounding zone affect global ice-sheet mass loss and sea level rise. Although recent changes in ice fluxes are well constrained by remote sensing, future projections remain uncertain, because key environments affecting ice-sheet dynamics – the ice-sheet bed and grounding zone – are largely unknown. Here, we used a remotely operated vehicle to explore the grounding zone of a Weddell Sea tidewater ice cliff. At 148 m we found a 0.3–0.5 m gap between the ice and the seafloor and a 0.4 m clear facies of debris- and bubble-free basal ice, suggesting freeze-on of meltwater in the distal marine portion of the ice sheet over the last 400 yr. Ploughmarks and low epifauna cover reveal recent grounding line retreat, as corroborated by satellite remote sensing. We found dense algal tufts on the ice cliff and high phytoplankton pigment concentrations, suggesting high productivity fuelled by nutrients from ice melt. As grounded tidewater ice cliffs rim 38% of the Antarctic continent, sinking and downwelling of organic matter along with low benthic turnover may contribute to enhanced carbon sequestration, providing a potentially important feedback to climate.</jats:p> |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Owsianowski, Nils Richter, Claudio |
author_facet |
Owsianowski, Nils Richter, Claudio |
author_sort |
Owsianowski, Nils |
title |
Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity |
title_short |
Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity |
title_full |
Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity |
title_fullStr |
Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity |
title_full_unstemmed |
Exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in Antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity |
title_sort |
exploration of an ice-cliff grounding zone in antarctica reveals frozen-on meltwater and high productivity |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl:6442434 https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00166-y |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic Weddell Sea Weddell |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic Weddell Sea Weddell |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet Weddell Sea |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Ice Sheet Weddell Sea |
op_source |
http://lobid.org/resources/99370686607206441#!, 2(1):99 |
op_relation |
https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl:6442434 https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00166-y |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00166-y |
container_title |
Communications Earth & Environment |
container_volume |
2 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1782341892966449152 |