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Ocean warming drives rapid dynamic activation of marine-terminating glacier on the west Antarctic Peninsula

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin J. Wallis

    (University of Leeds)

  • Anna E. Hogg

    (University of Leeds)

  • Michael P. Meredith

    (British Antarctic Survey)

  • Romilly Close

    (Lancaster University)

  • Dominic Hardy

    (Lancaster University)

  • Malcolm McMillan

    (Lancaster University)

  • Jan Wuite

    (ENVEO IT GmbH)

  • Thomas Nagler

    (ENVEO IT GmbH)

  • Carlos Moffat

    (University of Delaware)

Abstract

Ice dynamic change is the primary cause of mass loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet, thus it is important to understand the processes driving ice-ocean interactions and the timescale on which major change can occur. Here we use satellite observations to measure a rapid increase in speed and collapse of the ice shelf fronting Cadman Glacier in the absence of surface meltwater ponding. Between November 2018 and December 2019 ice speed increased by 94 ± 4% (1.47 ± 0.6 km/yr), ice discharge increased by 0.52 ± 0.21 Gt/yr, and the calving front retreated by 8 km with dynamic thinning on grounded ice of 20.1 ± 2.6 m/yr. This change was concurrent with a positive temperature anomaly in the upper ocean, where a 400 m deep channel allowed warm water to reach Cadman Glacier driving the dynamic activation, while neighbouring Funk and Lever Glaciers were protected by bathymetric sills across their fjords. Our results show that forcing by warm ocean water can cause the rapid onset of dynamic imbalance and increased ice discharge from glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula, highlighting the region’s sensitivity to future climate variability.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin J. Wallis & Anna E. Hogg & Michael P. Meredith & Romilly Close & Dominic Hardy & Malcolm McMillan & Jan Wuite & Thomas Nagler & Carlos Moffat, 2023. "Ocean warming drives rapid dynamic activation of marine-terminating glacier on the west Antarctic Peninsula," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42970-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42970-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. T. R. Chudley & I. M. Howat & M. D. King & A. Negrete, 2023. "Atlantic water intrusion triggers rapid retreat and regime change at previously stable Greenland glacier," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Chad A. Greene & Alex S. Gardner & Nicole-Jeanne Schlegel & Alexander D. Fraser, 2022. "Antarctic calving loss rivals ice-shelf thinning," Nature, Nature, vol. 609(7929), pages 948-953, September.
    3. Benjamin J. Davison & Anna E. Hogg & Richard Rigby & Sanne Veldhuijsen & Jan Melchior Wessem & Michiel R. Broeke & Paul R. Holland & Heather L. Selley & Pierre Dutrieux, 2023. "Sea level rise from West Antarctic mass loss significantly modified by large snowfall anomalies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. H. D. Pritchard & S. R. M. Ligtenberg & H. A. Fricker & D. G. Vaughan & M. R. van den Broeke & L. Padman, 2012. "Antarctic ice-sheet loss driven by basal melting of ice shelves," Nature, Nature, vol. 484(7395), pages 502-505, April.
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