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Holocene melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet driven by tropical Pacific warming

Author

Listed:
  • Adam D. Sproson

    (The University of Tokyo
    Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)

  • Yusuke Yokoyama

    (The University of Tokyo
    Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
    The University of Tokyo
    The University of Tokyo)

  • Yosuke Miyairi

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Takahiro Aze

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Rebecca L. Totten

    (The University of Alabama)

Abstract

The primary Antarctic contribution to modern sea-level rise is glacial discharge from the Amundsen Sea sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The main processes responsible for ice mass loss include: (1) ocean-driven melting of ice shelves by upwelling of warm water onto the continental shelf; and (2) atmospheric-driven surface melting of glaciers along the Antarctic coast. Understanding the relative influence of these processes on glacial stability is imperative to predicting sea-level rise. Employing a beryllium isotope-based reconstruction of ice-shelf history, we demonstrate that glaciers flowing into the Amundsen Sea Embayment underwent melting and retreat between 9 and 6 thousand years ago. Despite warm ocean water influence, this melting event was mainly forced by atmospheric circulation changes over continental West Antarctica, linked via a Rossby wave train to tropical Pacific Ocean warming. This millennial-scale glacial history may be used to validate contemporary ice-sheet models and improve sea-level projections.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam D. Sproson & Yusuke Yokoyama & Yosuke Miyairi & Takahiro Aze & Rebecca L. Totten, 2022. "Holocene melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet driven by tropical Pacific warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30076-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30076-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tao Li & Laura F. Robinson & Graeme A. MacGilchrist & Tianyu Chen & Joseph A. Stewart & Andrea Burke & Maoyu Wang & Gaojun Li & Jun Chen & James W. B. Rae, 2023. "Enhanced subglacial discharge from Antarctica during meltwater pulse 1A," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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