Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics

Recent observations and modelling studies have demonstrated the potential for rapid and substantial retreat of large sectors of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). This has major implications for ocean circulation and global sea level. Here we examine the effects of increasing meltwater from the...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	S. J. Phipps, C. J. Fogwill, C. S. M. Turney
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	Copernicus Publications 2016-09-01
Series:	The Cryosphere
Online Access:	https://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2317/2016/tc-10-2317-2016.pdf

id	doaj-e6388bfb712f416ba6b454d803cfb3f1
record_format	Article
spelling	doaj-e6388bfb712f416ba6b454d803cfb3f12020-11-24T22:33:50ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242016-09-01102317232810.5194/tc-10-2317-2016Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamicsS. J. Phipps0S. J. Phipps1C. J. Fogwill2C. J. Fogwill3C. S. M. Turney4Climate Change Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaInstitute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, AustraliaClimate Change Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaPANGEA Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaClimate Change Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, AustraliaRecent observations and modelling studies have demonstrated the potential for rapid and substantial retreat of large sectors of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). This has major implications for ocean circulation and global sea level. Here we examine the effects of increasing meltwater from the Wilkes Basin, one of the major marine-based sectors of the EAIS, on Southern Ocean dynamics. Climate model simulations reveal that the meltwater flux rapidly stratifies surface waters, leading to a dramatic decrease in the rate of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation. The surface ocean cools but, critically, the Southern Ocean warms by more than 1 °C at depth. This warming is accompanied by a Southern Ocean-wide “domino effect”, whereby the warming signal propagates westward with depth. Our results suggest that melting of one sector of the EAIS could result in accelerated warming across other sectors, including the Weddell Sea sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Thus, localised melting of the EAIS could potentially destabilise the wider Antarctic Ice Sheet.https://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2317/2016/tc-10-2317-2016.pdf
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	S. J. Phipps S. J. Phipps C. J. Fogwill C. J. Fogwill C. S. M. Turney
spellingShingle	S. J. Phipps S. J. Phipps C. J. Fogwill C. J. Fogwill C. S. M. Turney Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics The Cryosphere
author_facet	S. J. Phipps S. J. Phipps C. J. Fogwill C. J. Fogwill C. S. M. Turney
author_sort	S. J. Phipps
title	Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics
title_short	Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics
title_full	Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics
title_fullStr	Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics
title_full_unstemmed	Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics
title_sort	impacts of marine instability across the east antarctic ice sheet on southern ocean dynamics
publisher	Copernicus Publications
series	The Cryosphere
issn	1994-0416 1994-0424
publishDate	2016-09-01
description	Recent observations and modelling studies have demonstrated the potential for rapid and substantial retreat of large sectors of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). This has major implications for ocean circulation and global sea level. Here we examine the effects of increasing meltwater from the Wilkes Basin, one of the major marine-based sectors of the EAIS, on Southern Ocean dynamics. Climate model simulations reveal that the meltwater flux rapidly stratifies surface waters, leading to a dramatic decrease in the rate of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation. The surface ocean cools but, critically, the Southern Ocean warms by more than 1 °C at depth. This warming is accompanied by a Southern Ocean-wide “domino effect”, whereby the warming signal propagates westward with depth. Our results suggest that melting of one sector of the EAIS could result in accelerated warming across other sectors, including the Weddell Sea sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Thus, localised melting of the EAIS could potentially destabilise the wider Antarctic Ice Sheet.
url	https://www.the-cryosphere.net/10/2317/2016/tc-10-2317-2016.pdf
work_keys_str_mv	AT sjphipps impactsofmarineinstabilityacrosstheeastantarcticicesheetonsouthernoceandynamics AT sjphipps impactsofmarineinstabilityacrosstheeastantarcticicesheetonsouthernoceandynamics AT cjfogwill impactsofmarineinstabilityacrosstheeastantarcticicesheetonsouthernoceandynamics AT cjfogwill impactsofmarineinstabilityacrosstheeastantarcticicesheetonsouthernoceandynamics AT csmturney impactsofmarineinstabilityacrosstheeastantarcticicesheetonsouthernoceandynamics
_version_	1725729070173388800

Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics

Similar Items