Numerical modeling of ocean-ice interactions under Pine Island Bay's ice shelf

Payne, Antony J., Holland, Paul R., Shepherd, Andrew P., Rutt, Ian C., Jenkins, Adrian and Joughin, Ian (2007) Numerical modeling of ocean-ice interactions under Pine Island Bay's ice shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 112 (C10). C10019. ISSN 0148-0227

[img]
Preview
Text
Numerical modeling of ocean-ice interactions under Pine Island Bay’sice shelf.pdf - Published Version

Download (858kB) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JC003733

Abstract

A two-dimensional numerical model is used to simulate the dynamics of buoyant, meltwater-rich plumes flowing beneath the ice shelf occupying much of Pine Island Bay, West Antarctica. Recent studies have shown that this ice shelf, along with all others fringing the Amundsen Sea, is thinning rapidly. In the model, both the Coriolis effect and subshelf topography are important in controlling plume dynamics and the spatial distribution of ice melt. Melt is concentrated in a narrow zone within ∼20 km of the grounding line where steep subshelf slopes and access to warm ambient water allow melt rates to exceed 100 in yr-1. The plume generated by entrainment of ambient water into the meltwater in these areas is guided by the topography of the ice shelf underside and exits the ice shelf at three distinct outflow locations. Melt rates generated along the course of the plume are higher (approximately 2.5x) than rates elsewhere. The model suggests that the observed ice shelf thinning rates could have resulted from a hypothetical instantaneous 0.25°C warming of the ambient water entrained by the plume. A context for this value is provided by the 40-year warming trend documented by Jacobs et al. (2002) for Circumpolar Deep Water in the nearby Ross Sea.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: F700 Ocean Sciences
Department: Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Geography and Environmental Sciences
Depositing User: John Coen
Date Deposited: 27 Feb 2020 12:18
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 18:46
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/42258

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics