Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics

Phipps, SJ; Fogwill, CJ; Turney, CSM

Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics

Phipps, SJ Fogwill, CJ Turney, CSM

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Publisher:: COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cryosphere, 2016, 10, (5), pp. 2317-2328
Issue Date:: 2016-09-30

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Phipps, SJ
dc.contributor.author	Fogwill, CJ
dc.contributor.author	Turney, CSM
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-16T06:26:25Z
dc.date.available	2022-08-16T06:26:25Z
dc.date.issued	2016-09-30
dc.identifier.citation	Cryosphere, 2016, 10, (5), pp. 2317-2328
dc.identifier.issn	1994-0416
dc.identifier.issn	1994-0424
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160351
dc.description.abstract	Recent observations and modelling studies have demonstrated the potential for rapid and substantial retreat of large sectors of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). This has major implications for ocean circulation and global sea level. Here we examine the effects of increasing meltwater from the Wilkes Basin, one of the major marine-based sectors of the EAIS, on Southern Ocean dynamics. Climate model simulations reveal that the meltwater flux rapidly stratifies surface waters, leading to a dramatic decrease in the rate of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation. The surface ocean cools but, critically, the Southern Ocean warms by more than 1°C at depth. This warming is accompanied by a Southern Ocean-wide "domino effect", whereby the warming signal propagates westward with depth. Our results suggest that melting of one sector of the EAIS could result in accelerated warming across other sectors, including the Weddell Sea sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Thus, localised melting of the EAIS could potentially destabilise the wider Antarctic Ice Sheet.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH
dc.relation.ispartof	Cryosphere
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.5194/tc-10-2317-2016
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0405 Oceanography, 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
dc.subject.classification	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
dc.title	Impacts of marine instability across the East Antarctic Ice Sheet on Southern Ocean dynamics
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	10
utslib.for	0405 Oceanography
utslib.for	0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-16T06:26:23Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	10
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

Recent observations and modelling studies have demonstrated the potential for rapid and substantial retreat of large sectors of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). This has major implications for ocean circulation and global sea level. Here we examine the effects of increasing meltwater from the Wilkes Basin, one of the major marine-based sectors of the EAIS, on Southern Ocean dynamics. Climate model simulations reveal that the meltwater flux rapidly stratifies surface waters, leading to a dramatic decrease in the rate of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation. The surface ocean cools but, critically, the Southern Ocean warms by more than 1°C at depth. This warming is accompanied by a Southern Ocean-wide "domino effect", whereby the warming signal propagates westward with depth. Our results suggest that melting of one sector of the EAIS could result in accelerated warming across other sectors, including the Weddell Sea sector of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Thus, localised melting of the EAIS could potentially destabilise the wider Antarctic Ice Sheet.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160351