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Change in iceberg calving behavior preceded North Sea ice shelf disintegration during the last deglaciation

Author

Listed:
  • James D. Kirkham

    (High Cross
    University of Cambridge)

  • Kelly A. Hogan

    (High Cross)

  • Robert D. Larter

    (High Cross)

  • Neil S. Arnold

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Ed Self

    (Gardline Limited)

  • Ken Games

    (Gardline Limited)

  • Jeremy C. Ely

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Chris D. Clark

    (University of Sheffield)

  • James D. Scourse

    (University of Exeter)

  • Calvin Shackleton

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Jan Erik Arndt

    (Institute of Geomatics)

  • Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand

    (High Cross)

  • Mads Huuse

    (University of Manchester)

  • Margaret A. Stewart

    (Research Avenue South)

  • Dag Ottesen

    (Geological Survey of Norway)

  • Julian A. Dowdeswell

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Understanding how regime shifts in iceberg calving behavior affect ice shelf stability remains a challenge for numerical models. This is an important question as we consider the fate of the ice shelves that currently buttress the Antarctic Ice Sheet and hold back the bulk of its potential upstream sea-level contribution. Using buried landforms, we demonstrate that ice shelves fringed the former British-Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) and document their disintegration ~18,000 years ago. The ice shelves produced massive (5–10 s km wide, 50–180 m thick) tabular icebergs until widespread ice shelf break-up shifted the calving regime to smaller bergs; a change that coincided with the collapse of marine-based ice across the central North Sea. We propose that the BIIS reached a climatic threshold around 18 ka which caused massive surface melting of its ice shelves, triggering hydrofracturing of crevasses that ultimately led to their disintegration and likely enhanced ice-retreat rates.

Suggested Citation

  • James D. Kirkham & Kelly A. Hogan & Robert D. Larter & Neil S. Arnold & Ed Self & Ken Games & Jeremy C. Ely & Chris D. Clark & James D. Scourse & Calvin Shackleton & Jan Erik Arndt & Claus-Dieter Hill, 2025. "Change in iceberg calving behavior preceded North Sea ice shelf disintegration during the last deglaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58304-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58304-5
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