Observed vulnerability of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to wind-driven inflow of warm deep water.
Observed vulnerability of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf to wind-driven inflow of warm deep water.
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DOI：
10.1038/ncomms12300
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发表时间：
2016-08-02
影响因子：
16.6
通讯作者：
Nicholls KW
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Darelius E;Fer I;Nicholls KW
威德尔海南部的费尔奇纳-罗纳冰架底部的平均融化速度目前很低，但预计下个世纪将急剧增加。在一项模型研究中，随着冰况的变化导致沿海洋流的重新定向，将来自开放海洋的温暖海水带过费尔奇纳洼地并进入费尔奇纳冰架空洞，融化速度增加。在这里，我们提出了来自菲尔奇纳冰架附近和菲尔奇纳洼地的观测结果，这些观测结果表明，温暖的水脉冲已经到达了冰锋以南的地方。这种向南的热输送沿着菲尔奇纳洼地的东侧翼，被发现与风力驱动的海岸流的强度直接相关。我们的观测强调了Filchner-Ronne冰架融化速率对风强迫变化的潜在敏感性。最近的模拟研究表明，南极洲的费尔奇纳-罗纳冰架可能容易受到温暖海水涌入的影响，但缺乏观测证据。在这里，作者展示了从冰架上观察到的结果，并表明温暖的水脉冲已经沐浴在冰架上。
The average rate of melting at the base of the large Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in the southern Weddell Sea is currently low, but projected to increase dramatically within the next century. In a model study, melt rates increase as changing ice conditions cause a redirection of a coastal current, bringing warm water of open ocean origin through the Filchner Depression and into the Filchner Ice Shelf cavity. Here we present observations from near Filchner Ice Shelf and from the Filchner Depression, which show that pulses of warm water already arrive as far south as the ice front. This southward heat transport follows the eastern flank of the Filchner Depression and is found to be directly linked to the strength of a wind-driven coastal current. Our observations emphasize the potential sensitivity of Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf melt rates to changes in wind forcing. Recent modelling studies have indicated that the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica might be susceptible to the influx of warmer waters, yet observations evidence is lacking. Here, the authors present observations from the ice shelf, and show that warm water pulses already bathe the shelf.