Projected Warming of Water Surrounding Antarctic Ice Shelves

Geophysical Research Letters, April 18

The ocean around the base of Antarctica will continue to warm under future emission scenarios, with the level of warming by 2100 under high emissions (0.62°C) almost double that from medium-low emissions (0.36°C). Warm waters can melt Antarctic ice shelves from underneath, destabilizing sections of ice that support neighboring shelves; and which ultimately, buttress (hold back) ice loss from the Antarctic ice sheet itself. Current observed ocean warming around Antarctica is due to both wind-driven circulation changes, and deep water warming to the north of Antarctica that is then transported to the ice edge and under ice shelves. Authors emphasize the importance of curbing emissions and future warming to protect the integrity of Antarctica’s ice, especially in vulnerable regions where ice shelf loss may lead to more rapid ice sheet loss and global sea-level rise.

https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/1501/2021/

Compiled by Amy Imdieke