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Satellite record reveals 1960s acceleration of Totten Ice Shelf in East Antarctica

Author

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  • Rongxing Li

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

  • Yuan Cheng

    (Shanghai University)

  • Tian Chang

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

  • David E. Gwyther

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Martin Forbes

    (University of Otago)

  • Lu An

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

  • Menglian Xia

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

  • Xiaohan Yuan

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

  • Gang Qiao

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

  • Xiaohua Tong

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

  • Wenkai Ye

    (Tongji University
    Tongji University)

Abstract

Wilkes Land and Totten Glacier (TG) in East Antarctica (EA) have been losing ice mass significantly since 1989. There is a lack of knowledge of long-term mass balance in the region which hinders the estimation of its contribution to global sea level rise. Here we show that this acceleration trend in TG has occurred since the 1960s. We reconstruct ice flow velocity fields of 1963–1989 in TG from the first-generation satellite images of ARGON and Landsat-1&4, and build a five decade-long record of ice dynamics. We find a persistent long-term ice discharge rate of 68 ± 1 Gt/y and an acceleration of 0.17 ± 0.02 Gt/y2 from 1963 to 2018, making TG the greatest contributor to global sea level rise in EA. We attribute the long-term acceleration near grounding line from 1963 to 2018 to basal melting likely induced by warm modified Circumpolar Deep Water. The speed up in shelf front during 1973–1989 was caused by a large calving front retreat. As the current trend continues, intensified monitoring in the TG region is recommended in the next decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Rongxing Li & Yuan Cheng & Tian Chang & David E. Gwyther & Martin Forbes & Lu An & Menglian Xia & Xiaohan Yuan & Gang Qiao & Xiaohua Tong & Wenkai Ye, 2023. "Satellite record reveals 1960s acceleration of Totten Ice Shelf in East Antarctica," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-39588-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39588-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. Khazendar & M.P. Schodlok & I. Fenty & S.R.M. Ligtenberg & E. Rignot & M.R. van den Broeke, 2013. "Observed thinning of Totten Glacier is linked to coastal polynya variability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. David E. Gwyther & Terence J. O’Kane & Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi & Didier P. Monselesan & Jamin S. Greenbaum, 2018. "Intrinsic processes drive variability in basal melting of the Totten Glacier Ice Shelf," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. H. D. Pritchard & S. R. M. Ligtenberg & H. A. Fricker & D. G. Vaughan & M. R. van den Broeke & L. Padman, 2012. "Antarctic ice-sheet loss driven by basal melting of ice shelves," Nature, Nature, vol. 484(7395), pages 502-505, April.
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