The Cryosphere

Warm ocean is eroding West Antarctic Ice Sheet

  1. Andrew Shepherd1,
  2. Duncan Wingham2,
  3. Eric Rignot3

Article first published online: 9 DEC 2004

DOI: 10.1029/2004GL021106

Issue

Geophysical Research Letters

Geophysical Research Letters

Additional Information

How to Cite

Shepherd, A., D. Wingham, and E. Rignot (2004), Warm ocean is eroding West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L23402, doi:10.1029/2004GL021106.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

  2. 2

    Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, University College London, London, UK

  3. 3

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

  1. This is a companion to DOI:10.1029/2004GL021284.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 DEC 2004
  2. Article first published online: 9 DEC 2004
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 OCT 2004
  4. Manuscript Revised: 7 SEP 2004
  5. Manuscript Received: 26 JUL 2004

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[1] Satellite radar measurements show that ice shelves in Pine Island Bay have thinned by up to 5.5 m yr−1 over the past decade. The pattern of shelf thinning mirrors that of their grounded tributaries - the Pine Island, Thwaites and Smith glaciers - and ocean currents on average 0.5°C warmer than freezing appear to be the source. The synchronised imbalance of the inland glaciers is the result of reduced lateral and basal tractions at their termini, and the drawdown of grounded ice shows that Antarctica is more sensitive to changing climates than was previously considered.

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