Topographic Steering of Enhanced Ice Flow at the Bottleneck Between East and West Antarctica

Kate Winter; Neil Ross; Fausto Ferraccioli; Tom A. Jordan; Hugh F. J. Corr; René Forsberg; Kenichi Matsuoka; Arne V. Olesen; Tania G. Casal

doi:10.1029/2018gl077504

Topographic Steering of Enhanced Ice Flow at the Bottleneck Between East and West Antarctica

Authors:

Winter, Kate ;
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Northumbria University
Ross, Neil ;
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Newcastle University
Ferraccioli, Fausto ;
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British Antarctic Survey
Jordan, Tom A. ;
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British Antarctic Survey
Corr, Hugh F. J. ;
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British Antarctic Survey
Forsberg, René ;
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0000-0002-7288-9545
National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark
Matsuoka, Kenichi ;
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Norwegian Polar Institute
Olesen, Arne V. ;
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0000-0001-9555-9787
National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark
Casal, Tania G.
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ESTEC

DOI:

10.1029/2018gl077504

Abstract:

Hypothesized drawdown of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet through the “bottleneck” zone between East and West Antarctica would have significant impacts for a large proportion of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Earth observation satellite orbits and a sparseness of radio echo sounding data have restricted investigations of basal boundary controls on ice flow in this region until now. New airborne radio echo sounding surveys reveal complex topography of high relief beneath the southernmost Weddell/Ross ice divide, with three subglacial troughs connecting interior Antarctica to the Foundation and Patuxent Ice Streams and Siple Coast ice streams. These troughs route enhanced ice flow through the interior of Antarctica but limit potential drawdown of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet through the bottleneck zone. In a thinning or retreating scenario, these topographically controlled corridors of enhanced flow could however drive ice divide migration and increase mass discharge from interior West Antarctica to the Southern Ocean.

Type:

Journal article

Language:

English

Published in:

Geophysical Research Letters, 2018, Vol 45, Issue 10, p. 4899-4907

Main Research Area:

Science/technology

Publication Status:

Published

Review type:

Peer Review

Submission year:

2018

Scientific Level:

Scientific

ID:

2434266648

Topographic Steering of Enhanced Ice Flow at the Bottleneck Between East and West Antarctica

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