Shepherd, A and Wingham, D and Rignot, E (2004) Warm ocean is eroding West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Geophysical Research Letters , 31 (23) , Article L23402. 10.1029/2004GL021106.
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Abstract
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 0.5degreesC 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.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Warm ocean is eroding West Antarctic Ice Sheet |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1029/2004GL021106 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2004GL021106 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union |
| Keywords: | Pine island glacier, Tidal motion, Shelf, Sea |
| UCL classification: | UCL > School of BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Earth Sciences |
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