Bathymetry of the Antarctic continental shelf and ice shelf cavities from circumpolar gravity anomalies and other data

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Bathymetry critically influences the intrusion of warm Circumpolar Deep Water onto the continental shelf and under ice shelf cavities in Antarctica, thereby forcing ice melting, grounding line retreat, and sea level rise. We present a novel and comprehensive bathymetry of Antarctica that includes all ice shelf cavities and previously unmeasured continental shelf areas. The new bathymetry is based on a 3D inversion of a circumpolar compilation of gravity anomalies constrained by measurements from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean, BedMachine Antarctica, and discrete seafloor measurements from seismic and ocean robotic probes. Previously unknown troughs with thicker ice shelf cavities are revealed in many parts of Antarctica, especially East Antarctica. The greater depths of troughs on the continental shelf and ice shelf cavities imply that many glaciers are more vulnerable to ocean subsurface warming than previously thought, which may increase the projections of sea level rise from Antarctica.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1214
Number of pages10
JournalScientific Reports
Volume15
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jan 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85214410506
ORCID /0000-0002-0892-8941/work/176862405