Recent studies, primarily reliant on data gathered from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 and the European Space Agency’s CryoSat satellite missions, have unearthed disturbing facts about the status of Antarctic ice shelves. Over the last 25 years, 40% of these ice shelves have experienced significant volumetric reduction. This alarming data underscores the intensifying effects of climate change on this southernmost landmass, although the pattern of ice loss is not uniform.
The research, financed by the European Space Agency’s Earth Observation Science for Society program and currently available in the Science Advances journal, used 100,000 satellite radar images to offer a comprehensive evaluation of the health of Antarctic ice shelves.
These substantial floating extensions of Antarctica’s primary ice sheet are instrumental in maintaining the area’s glacial stability by serving as barriers that decelerate the transfer of ice into the ocean. As a consequence, Antarctica faces a compounded dilemma: as ice shelves decrease in size, the rate of ice sheet loss escalates.
Headed by scientists from the University of Leeds, the research team ascertained that out of 162 ice shelves encircling Antarctica, 71 have contracted in volume, discharging nearly 67 trillion tonnes of meltwater into the ocean. In addition to the issue of mass loss from the ice shelves, this influx of freshwater into the oceanic system may affect global ocean circulation patterns.
Moreover, the scientists discovered that almost all ice shelves on the western side of Antarctica are undergoing a reduction in size. Conversely, the majority of the ice shelves on the eastern side have either remained stable or have gained mass.
Benjamin Davison, a research associate at the University of Leeds, stated, “The differing patterns of ice-shelf reduction are related to variations in ocean temperature and currents surrounding Antarctica. The western region is vulnerable to warm water intrusion, causing rapid erosion of ice shelves from below, while a band of cold water along the coast currently shields much of East Antarctica.”
The seas on either side of this vast continent are affected by different winds and currents, driving warmer water beneath the western ice shelves. This led to significant losses in the Getz Ice Shelf, where approximately 1.9 trillion tonnes of ice have melted over the 25-year study period. Calving—breaking off large chunks of ice—accounted for just 5% of this loss, whereas the majority occurred due to basal melting.
Similarly, the Pine Island Ice Shelf lost around 1.3 trillion tonnes of ice, with 450 billion tonnes attributed to calving and the remainder due to melting at the ice shelf’s base.
Conversely, the Amery Ice Shelf, located on the other side of Antarctica and encircled by significantly colder waters, experienced a gain of 1.2 trillion tonnes of ice.
Dr. Davison further commented, “We initially expected the ice shelves to undergo periodic rapid contractions followed by slow regrowth. Instead, we observed that nearly half are in a state of continuous reduction with no apparent signs of recovery.”
Satellites equipped with advanced synthetic aperture radars, such as Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2, are invaluable for monitoring changes in ground cover, ice shelves, and glaciers, as well as for aiding in disaster response and humanitarian efforts.
Noel Gourmelen, affiliated with the University of Edinburgh and Earthwave, remarked, “ESA’s CryoSat has proven to be an exceptional tool for observing polar changes. Its precision in mapping ice shelf erosion contributes not only to quantifying ice shelf loss but also unveils intricate details of the erosion process.”
Reference: “Annual mass budget of Antarctic ice shelves from 1997 to 2021” by Benjamin J. Davison, Anna E. Hogg, Noel Gourmelen, Livia Jakob, Jan Wuite, Thomas Nagler, Chad A. Greene, Julia Andreasen, and Marcus E. Engdahl, published on October 12, 2023, in Science Advances.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi0186
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Antarctic ice shelves
What is the primary focus of the recent Antarctic ice shelf research?
The primary focus is to assess the state and health of Antarctic ice shelves. The research uses data mainly from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 and ESA’s CryoSat satellite missions to reveal that 40% of Antarctic ice shelves have experienced significant reductions in volume over the past 25 years.
What are the key findings of the research?
The key findings indicate that 71 out of 162 ice shelves around Antarctica have reduced in volume, releasing almost 67 trillion tonnes of meltwater into the ocean. This volumetric reduction has potential implications for global ocean circulation patterns.
Who conducted the research?
The research was led by scientists from the University of Leeds and was funded by the European Space Agency’s Earth Observation Science for Society program. It has been published in the journal Science Advances.
What role do these ice shelves play in the Antarctic ecosystem?
Antarctic ice shelves act as substantial floating extensions of the continent’s primary ice sheet. They are instrumental in maintaining the region’s glacial stability by serving as barriers that slow down the transfer of ice into the ocean.
What could be the potential consequences of the ice shelf reduction?
Apart from accelerated ice loss from the Antarctic ice sheet, the reduction in ice shelf volume is contributing almost 67 trillion tonnes of freshwater meltwater into the ocean. This could have implications for global ocean circulation patterns.
How does the state of ice shelves vary between the eastern and western sides of Antarctica?
The research found that almost all ice shelves on the western side of Antarctica are experiencing reductions in size. Conversely, the majority of the ice shelves on the eastern side have either remained stable or have gained mass.
What tools were used for data collection in this study?
Data for this study were primarily collected using advanced synthetic aperture radars from satellites such as Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2, as well as ESA’s CryoSat which carries a radar altimeter for precise measurements.
What are the future implications of these findings?
The findings underscore the intensifying impacts of climate change on Antarctic ice shelves, pointing to the urgency for intervention and adaptive strategies. They also highlight that the phenomenon is not uniform and is influenced by regional oceanic and atmospheric conditions.
More about Antarctic ice shelves
- Science Advances Journal Article
- European Space Agency’s Earth Observation Science for Society Program
- University of Leeds Research on Antarctic Ice Shelves
- Copernicus Sentinel-1 Mission Overview
- ESA’s CryoSat Mission Details
- Global Ocean Circulation Patterns and Climate Change
- Impact of Ice Shelf Reduction on Sea Levels
5 comments
It’s interesting that the eastern and western ice shelves are experiencing different levels of deterioration. Wonder what’s causing that.
Didn’t know that the situation was so bad. 40% reduction in 25 years is insane. We need to act, and we need to act now.
that’s a lot of meltwater goin into the ocean. Isn’t this gonna mess up the currents and all that?
Man, satellites are amazing. The fact that we can get this kinda data from space is just wild. But the findings? Terrifying.
Wow, this is eye-opening stuff. Really makes you wonder what the future holds for our planet. Climate change ain’t no joke folks.