Nonlinear interaction between ocean tides and the Larsen C Ice Shelf system

King, Matt A.; Makinson, Keith ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5791-1767; Gudmundsson, G. Hilmar ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4236-5369. 2011 Nonlinear interaction between ocean tides and the Larsen C Ice Shelf system. Geophysical Research Letters, 38 (8), L08501. 5, pp. 10.1029/2011GL046680

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Abstract/Summary

We report on three GPS records of flow of the Larsen C Ice Shelf, spanning 2 months to 2 years. Variations in speed are evident at periods from a few hours to similar to 182 days, including semi-diurnal, diurnal and similar to 14.76 days. At fortnightly periods the ice shelf varies by +/- 10% from its long-term speed but at diurnal timescales it is up to +/- 100%. A nonlinear relationship between ocean tides and velocity is required to explain the observed variations in flow. As an initial examination we model flow as a non-linear function of basal shear stress including tidal perturbations in the ice shelf grounding zone and show that the major features of the observations are reproduced, notably the long-period signal largely absent from the vertical tidal signal. Alternative explanations are discussed. These observations demonstrate that the ice shelf system is highly sensitive to relatively modest changes in forcing at its boundaries.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2011GL046680
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Polar Oceans
ISSN:	0094-8276
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences Glaciology
Date made live:	20 Jun 2011 14:37 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14491

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