Ocean forcing of glacier retreat in the western Antarctic Peninsula

Cook, A.J.; Holland, P.R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8370-289X; Meredith, M.P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7342-7756; Murray, T.; Luckman, A.; Vaughan, D.G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9065-0570. 2016 Ocean forcing of glacier retreat in the western Antarctic Peninsula. Science, 353 (6296). 283-286. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aae0017

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Text This is the author accepted version of Cook et al. Science, 15 Jul 2016: Vol. 353, Issue 6296, pp. 283-286 DOI: 10.1126/science.aae0017 Cook_et_al_Science.pdf - Accepted Version Download (440kB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

In recent decades, hundreds of glaciers draining the Antarctic Peninsula (63° to 70°S) have undergone systematic and progressive change. These changes are widely attributed to rapid increases in regional surface air temperature, but it is now clear that this cannot be the sole driver. Here, we identify a strong correspondence between mid-depth ocean temperatures and glacier-front changes along the ~1000-kilometer western coastline. In the south, glaciers that terminate in warm Circumpolar Deep Water have undergone considerable retreat, whereas those in the far northwest, which terminate in cooler waters, have not. Furthermore, a mid-ocean warming since the 1990s in the south is coincident with widespread acceleration of glacier retreat. We conclude that changes in ocean-induced melting are the primary cause of retreat for glaciers in this region.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aae0017
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > BAS Programmes 2015 > Polar Oceans
ISSN:	0036-8075
Date made live:	19 Jul 2016 12:23 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513992

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