Evidence from ice shelves for channelized meltwater flow beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Anne Le Brocq; Neil Ross; Jennifer Griggs; Robert Bingham; Hugh F. J. Corr; F  Ferraccioli; Adrian Jenkins; Tom Jordan; Anthony Payne; David Rippin; M. J. Siegert

doi:10.1038/NGEO1977

Evidence from ice shelves for channelized meltwater flow beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Anne Le Brocq, Neil Ross, Jennifer Griggs, Robert Bingham, Hugh F. J. Corr, F Ferraccioli, Adrian Jenkins, Tom Jordan, Anthony Payne, David Rippin, M. J. Siegert

Environment and Geography

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Meltwater generated beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) exerts a strong influence on both ice flow and ocean circulation. Changes in the subglacial hydrological system can lead to a substantial speed up or slow down of major ice streams and meltwater plumes beneath floating ice shelves, driven by subglacial meltwater input, cause large melt rates due to entrainment of warmer ocean water. Despite its importance, the nature of the hydrological system beneath the ice sheet remains poorly characterised. Here we present evidence for large (300 m wide, 250 m deep) sub-ice-shelf channels beneath the Filchner Ronne Ice Shelf, formed by a meltwater plume initiated by subglacial water exiting the upstream grounded ice sheet in a focussed (channelised) manner. We propose that the sub-ice-shelf channels provide a method for investigating the nature and evolution of the ice sheet’s subglacial hydrological system.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	945-948
Number of pages	4
Journal	Nature Geoscience
Volume	6
Issue number	11
Early online date	7 Oct 2013
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO1977
Publication status	Published - Nov 2013

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10.1038/NGEO1977

http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v6/n11/full/ngeo1977.html

IIS/MIS: Airborne geophysical investigation targets basal boundary conditions for the Institute and Moller ice streams, West Antarctica
Rippin, D. (Principal investigator), Bingham, R. (Co-investigator), Corr, H. F. J. (Co-investigator), Ferraccioli, F. (Co-investigator), Jordan, T. (Co-investigator), Le Brocq, A. (Co-investigator), Ross, N. (Co-investigator) & Siegert, M. J. (Co-investigator)
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
1/10/10 → 31/03/13
Project: Research project (funded) › Research

Cite this

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title = "Evidence from ice shelves for channelized meltwater flow beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet",

abstract = "Meltwater generated beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) exerts a strong influence on both ice flow and ocean circulation. Changes in the subglacial hydrological system can lead to a substantial speed up or slow down of major ice streams and meltwater plumes beneath floating ice shelves, driven by subglacial meltwater input, cause large melt rates due to entrainment of warmer ocean water. Despite its importance, the nature of the hydrological system beneath the ice sheet remains poorly characterised. Here we present evidence for large (300 m wide, 250 m deep) sub-ice-shelf channels beneath the Filchner Ronne Ice Shelf, formed by a meltwater plume initiated by subglacial water exiting the upstream grounded ice sheet in a focussed (channelised) manner. We propose that the sub-ice-shelf channels provide a method for investigating the nature and evolution of the ice sheet{\textquoteright}s subglacial hydrological system.",

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AU - Le Brocq, Anne

AU - Ross, Neil

AU - Griggs, Jennifer

AU - Bingham, Robert

AU - Corr, Hugh F. J.

AU - Ferraccioli, F

AU - Jenkins, Adrian

AU - Jordan, Tom

AU - Payne, Anthony

AU - Rippin, David

AU - Siegert, M. J.

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AB - Meltwater generated beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) exerts a strong influence on both ice flow and ocean circulation. Changes in the subglacial hydrological system can lead to a substantial speed up or slow down of major ice streams and meltwater plumes beneath floating ice shelves, driven by subglacial meltwater input, cause large melt rates due to entrainment of warmer ocean water. Despite its importance, the nature of the hydrological system beneath the ice sheet remains poorly characterised. Here we present evidence for large (300 m wide, 250 m deep) sub-ice-shelf channels beneath the Filchner Ronne Ice Shelf, formed by a meltwater plume initiated by subglacial water exiting the upstream grounded ice sheet in a focussed (channelised) manner. We propose that the sub-ice-shelf channels provide a method for investigating the nature and evolution of the ice sheet’s subglacial hydrological system.

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ER -

Evidence from ice shelves for channelized meltwater flow beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Abstract

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Projects

IIS/MIS: Airborne geophysical investigation targets basal boundary conditions for the Institute and Moller ice streams, West Antarctica

Cite this