Influence of tides on melting and freezing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica

Makinson, Keith ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5791-1767; Holland, Paul R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8370-289X; Jenkins, Adrian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9117-0616; Nicholls, Keith W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2188-4509; Holland, David M.. 2011 Influence of tides on melting and freezing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 38 (6), L06601. 6, pp. 10.1029/2010GL046462

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Abstract/Summary

An isopycnic coordinate ocean circulation model is applied to the ocean cavity beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, investigating the role of tides on sub-ice shelf circulation and ice shelf basal mass balance. Including tidal forcing causes a significant intensification in the sub-ice shelf circulation, with an increase in melting (3-fold) and refreezing (6-fold); the net melt rate and seawater flux through the cavity approximately doubles. With tidal forcing, the spatial pattern and magnitude of basal melting and freezing generally match observations. The 0.22 m a(-1) net melt rate is close to satellite-derived estimates and at the lower end of oceanographic values. The Ice Shelf Water outflow mixes with shelf waters, forming a cold (<-1.9 degrees C), dense overflow (0.83 Sv) that spills down the continental slope. These results demonstrate that tidal forcing is fundamental to both ice shelf-ocean interactions and deep-water formation in the southern Weddell Sea. Citation: Makinson, K., P. R. Holland, A. Jenkins, K. W. Nicholls, and D. M. Holland (2011), Influence of tides on melting and freezing beneath Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L06601, doi: 10.1029/2010GL046462.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2010GL046462
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Polar Oceans
ISSN:	0094-8276
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences Glaciology
Date made live:	21 Jun 2011 09:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/14502

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1029/2010GL046462

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Polar Science for Planet Earth (2009 - ) > Polar Oceans

ISSN:

0094-8276

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences
Glaciology

Date made live:

21 Jun 2011 09:41 +0 (UTC)