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Warm ocean is eroding West Antarctic Ice Sheet
Author(s) -
Shepherd Andrew,
Wingham Duncan,
Rignot Eric
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl021106
Subject(s) - geology , ice shelf , ice sheet , antarctic ice sheet , glacier , bay , oceanography , drawdown (hydrology) , antarctic sea ice , ice stream , thinning , tributary , climatology , cryosphere , geomorphology , sea ice , geography , geotechnical engineering , cartography , forestry , aquifer , groundwater
Satellite radar measurements show that ice shelves in Pine Island Bay have thinned by up to 5.5 m yr −1 over the past decade. The pattern of shelf thinning mirrors that of their grounded tributaries ‐ the Pine Island, Thwaites and Smith glaciers ‐ and ocean currents on average 0.5°C warmer than freezing appear to be the source. The synchronised imbalance of the inland glaciers is the result of reduced lateral and basal tractions at their termini, and the drawdown of grounded ice shows that Antarctica is more sensitive to changing climates than was previously considered.