Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines

Sun, Sainan, Hattermann, Tore, Pattyn, Frank, Nicholls, Keith W., Drews, Reinhard and Berger, Sophie (2019) Topographic Shelf Waves Control Seasonal Melting Near Antarctic Ice Shelf Grounding Lines. Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (16). pp. 9824-9832. ISSN 0094-8276

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083881

Abstract

The buttressing potential of ice shelves is modulated by changes in subshelf melting, in response to changing ocean conditions. We analyze the temporal variability in subshelf melting using an autonomous phase-sensitive radio-echo sounder near the grounding line of the Roi Baudouin Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. When combined with additional oceanographic evidence of seasonal variations in the stratification and the amplification of diurnal tides around the shelf break topography (Gunnerus Bank), the results suggest an intricate mechanism in which topographic waves control the seasonal melt rate variability near the grounding line. This mechanism has not been considered before and has the potential to enhance local melt rates without advecting different water masses. As topographic waves seem to strengthen in a stratified ocean, the freshening of Antarctic surface water, predicted by observations and models, is likely to increase future basal melting in this area.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding information: Belgian Federal Science Policy Office. Grant Number: IceCon DFG Emmy Noether Grant. Grant Number: DR 822/3-1 Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid (BELSPO). Grant Number: MIMO FNRS | Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture (FRIA). Grant Number: MEDRISM
Subjects: F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences
F900 Others in Physical Sciences
Department: Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Geography and Environmental Sciences
Depositing User: Rachel Branson
Date Deposited: 20 Sep 2021 14:18
Last Modified: 20 Sep 2021 14:30
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/47283

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