Acceleration of Pine Island and Thwaites Glaciers, West Antarctica

Rignot, Eric; Vaughan, David G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9065-0570; Schmeltz, Majorie; Dupont, Todd; MacAyeal, Douglas. 2002 Acceleration of Pine Island and Thwaites Glaciers, West Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, 34. 189-194. https://doi.org/10.3189/172756402781817950

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Abstract/Summary

Recent satellite investigations revealed that in the 1990s the grounding line of Pine Island and Thwaites Glaciers, West Antarctica, retreated several km, the ice surface on the interior of the basins lowered 10 cm a-1, and Pine Island Glacier thinned 1.6 m a-1. These observations, however, were not sufficient to determine the cause of the changes. Here, we present satellite radar interferometry data that show the thinning and retreat of Pine Island Glacier are caused by an acceleration of ice flow of about 18 ± 2% in 8 years. Thwaites Glacier maintained a nearly constant flow regime at its center, but widened along the sides, and increased its 30 ± 15% mass deficit by another 4% in 4 years. The combined mass loss from both glaciers, if correct, contributes an estimated 0.08 ± 0.03 mm a-1 global sea-level rise in 2000.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3189/172756402781817950
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Global Interactions of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
ISSN:	0260-3055
Date made live:	21 Mar 2012 14:42 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/17401

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.3189/172756402781817950

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Global Interactions of the Antarctic Ice Sheet

ISSN:

0260-3055

Date made live:

21 Mar 2012 14:42 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/17401