Antarctic surface hydrology and impacts on ice-sheet mass balance
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Publication Date
2018-12Journal Title
Nature Climate Change
ISSN
1758-678X
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
8
Issue
12
Pages
1044-1052
Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Bell, R., Banwell, A., Trusel, L., & Kingslake, J. (2018). Antarctic surface hydrology and impacts on ice-sheet mass balance. Nature Climate Change, 8 (12), 1044-1052. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0326-3
Abstract
Melting is pervasive along the ice surrounding Antarctica. On the surface of the grounded ice sheet and floating ice shelves, extensive networks of lakes, streams and rivers both store and transport water. As melting increases with a warming climate, the surface hydrology of Antarctica in some regions could resemble Greenland’s present-day ablation and percolation zones. Drawing on observations of widespread Antarctica surface water and decades of study in Greenland, we consider three modes by which meltwater could impact Antarctic mass balance: increased runoff, meltwater injection to the bed, and meltwater-induced ice-shelf fracture, all of which may contribute to future ice sheet mass loss from Antarctica.
Sponsorship
Leverhulme Trust (ECF-2014-412)
Isaac Newton Trust (1408(g))
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0326-3
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/285653
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http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
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