Observed vulnerability of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to wind-driven inflow of warm deep water

Darelius, E.; Fer, I.; Nicholls, K.W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2188-4509. 2016 Observed vulnerability of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to wind-driven inflow of warm deep water. Nature Communications, 7, 12300. 7, pp. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12300

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12300

Abstract/Summary

The average rate of melting at the base of the large Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in the southern Weddell Sea is currently low, but projected to increase dramatically within the next century. In a model study, melt rates increase as changing ice conditions cause a redirection of a coastal current, bringing warm water of open ocean origin through the Filchner Depression and into the Filchner Ice Shelf cavity. Here we present observations from near Filchner Ice Shelf and from the Filchner Depression, which show that pulses of warm water already arrive as far south as the ice front. This southward heat transport follows the eastern flank of the Filchner Depression and is found to be directly linked to the strength of a wind-driven coastal current. Our observations emphasize the potential sensitivity of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf melt rates to changes in wind forcing.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12300
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Polar Oceans
ISSN:	2041-1723
Date made live:	23 Aug 2016 11:09 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514322

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12300

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Polar Oceans

ISSN:

2041-1723

Date made live:

23 Aug 2016 11:09 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514322