Articles | Volume 13, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1959-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1959-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
17 Jul 2019
Research article |
| 17 Jul 2019
| 17 Jul 2019
Past water flow beneath Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, West Antarctica
Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK
British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
Kelly A. Hogan
British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
Robert D. Larter
British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
Neil S. Arnold
Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK
Frank O. Nitsche
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, P.O. Box 1000, Palisades, NY 10964-8000, USA
Nicholas R. Golledge
Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Julian A. Dowdeswell
Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1ER, UK
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Cited
28 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Characterizing bed roughness on the Antarctic continental margin S. Munevar Garcia et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.88
- Assessing the potential for ice flow piracy between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers, East Antarctica F. McCormack et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4549-2023
- Antarctic grounding zone and bedrock: the interplay shaping Antarctic sea-level contribution S. Nowicki & H. Seroussi https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2024.0544
- Toward Numerical Modeling of Interactions Between Ice-Marginal Proglacial Lakes and Glaciers J. Carrivick et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.577068
- Characteristics and formation of bedrock mega-grooves (BMGs) in glaciated terrain: 1 - morphometric analyses M. Newton et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108619
- Sedimentary Signatures of Persistent Subglacial Meltwater Drainage From Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica A. Lepp et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.863200
- Tunnel valley formation beneath deglaciating mid-latitude ice sheets: Observations and modelling J. Kirkham et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107680
- Lithofacies and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the glaciomarine lower Wynyard Formation (Pennsylvanian–early Permian, Tasmanian Basin) L. Ives & J. Isbell https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2023.106482
- History of Anvers-Hugo Trough, western Antarctic Peninsula shelf, since the Last Glacial Maximum. Part I: Deglacial history based on new sedimentological and chronological data Z. Roseby et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107590
- Subglacial lakes and their changing role in a warming climate S. Livingstone et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00246-9
- Characteristics and formation of bedrock mega-grooves (BMGs) in glaciated terrain: 2 – conceptual models of BMG initiation D. Evans et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108620
- Safeguarding the polar regions from dangerous geoengineering: a critical assessment of proposed concepts and future prospects M. Siegert et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsci.2025.1527393
- SUHMO: an adaptive mesh refinement SUbglacial Hydrology MOdel v1.0 A. Felden et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-407-2023
- Subglacial lakes and hydrology across the Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands, West Antarctica F. Napoleoni et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4507-2020
- Repeat Subglacial Lake Drainage and Filling Beneath Thwaites Glacier G. Malczyk et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089658
- Revealing the former bed of Thwaites Glacier using sea-floor bathymetry: implications for warm-water routing and bed controls on ice flow and buttressing K. Hogan et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2883-2020
- Subglacial Water Flow Over an Antarctic Palaeo‐Ice Stream Bed K. Hogan et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006442
- New Catalog of Thwaites Glacier Subglacial Lakes and Their Activity Revealed by CryoSat‐2 Altimetry B. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007602
- Deep and extensive meltwater system beneath the former Eurasian Ice Sheet in the Kara Sea A. Montelli et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G46968.1
- Bedforms of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica: Character and Origin R. Alley et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006339
- Bedrock erosion in subglacial channels S. Fagherazzi et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253768
- Geomorphological and morphometric characterization of subglacial channels on Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada S. Ruso et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109345
- Morphometry of bedrock meltwater channels on Antarctic inner continental shelves: Implications for channel development and subglacial hydrology J. Kirkham et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107369
- Loss of research and operational equipment in Antarctica: Balancing scientific advances with environmental impact K. Hughes et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119200
- Synchronous retreat of Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers in response to external forcings in the presatellite era R. Clark et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2211711120
- East Antarctic ice flow dynamic based on subglacial landforms near Dibble Glacier F. Nitsche & R. Correia https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2019.106007
- Okanogan lobe tunnel channels and subglacial floods into Moses Coulee, Channeled Scabland, northwestern United States J. Gombiner & J. Lesemann https://doi.org/10.1130/G52005.1
- Insights into glacial processes from micromorphology of silt-sized sediment A. Lepp et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2297-2024
28 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Characterizing bed roughness on the Antarctic continental margin S. Munevar Garcia et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.88
- Assessing the potential for ice flow piracy between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers, East Antarctica F. McCormack et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4549-2023
- Antarctic grounding zone and bedrock: the interplay shaping Antarctic sea-level contribution S. Nowicki & H. Seroussi https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2024.0544
- Toward Numerical Modeling of Interactions Between Ice-Marginal Proglacial Lakes and Glaciers J. Carrivick et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.577068
- Characteristics and formation of bedrock mega-grooves (BMGs) in glaciated terrain: 1 - morphometric analyses M. Newton et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108619
- Sedimentary Signatures of Persistent Subglacial Meltwater Drainage From Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica A. Lepp et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.863200
- Tunnel valley formation beneath deglaciating mid-latitude ice sheets: Observations and modelling J. Kirkham et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107680
- Lithofacies and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the glaciomarine lower Wynyard Formation (Pennsylvanian–early Permian, Tasmanian Basin) L. Ives & J. Isbell https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2023.106482
- History of Anvers-Hugo Trough, western Antarctic Peninsula shelf, since the Last Glacial Maximum. Part I: Deglacial history based on new sedimentological and chronological data Z. Roseby et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107590
- Subglacial lakes and their changing role in a warming climate S. Livingstone et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00246-9
- Characteristics and formation of bedrock mega-grooves (BMGs) in glaciated terrain: 2 – conceptual models of BMG initiation D. Evans et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2023.108620
- Safeguarding the polar regions from dangerous geoengineering: a critical assessment of proposed concepts and future prospects M. Siegert et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsci.2025.1527393
- SUHMO: an adaptive mesh refinement SUbglacial Hydrology MOdel v1.0 A. Felden et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-16-407-2023
- Subglacial lakes and hydrology across the Ellsworth Subglacial Highlands, West Antarctica F. Napoleoni et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4507-2020
- Repeat Subglacial Lake Drainage and Filling Beneath Thwaites Glacier G. Malczyk et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089658
- Revealing the former bed of Thwaites Glacier using sea-floor bathymetry: implications for warm-water routing and bed controls on ice flow and buttressing K. Hogan et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2883-2020
- Subglacial Water Flow Over an Antarctic Palaeo‐Ice Stream Bed K. Hogan et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006442
- New Catalog of Thwaites Glacier Subglacial Lakes and Their Activity Revealed by CryoSat‐2 Altimetry B. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007602
- Deep and extensive meltwater system beneath the former Eurasian Ice Sheet in the Kara Sea A. Montelli et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G46968.1
- Bedforms of Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica: Character and Origin R. Alley et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006339
- Bedrock erosion in subglacial channels S. Fagherazzi et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253768
- Geomorphological and morphometric characterization of subglacial channels on Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada S. Ruso et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109345
- Morphometry of bedrock meltwater channels on Antarctic inner continental shelves: Implications for channel development and subglacial hydrology J. Kirkham et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107369
- Loss of research and operational equipment in Antarctica: Balancing scientific advances with environmental impact K. Hughes et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119200
- Synchronous retreat of Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers in response to external forcings in the presatellite era R. Clark et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2211711120
- East Antarctic ice flow dynamic based on subglacial landforms near Dibble Glacier F. Nitsche & R. Correia https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2019.106007
- Okanogan lobe tunnel channels and subglacial floods into Moses Coulee, Channeled Scabland, northwestern United States J. Gombiner & J. Lesemann https://doi.org/10.1130/G52005.1
- Insights into glacial processes from micromorphology of silt-sized sediment A. Lepp et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2297-2024
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 09 Jun 2026
Short summary
A series of huge (500 m wide, 50 m deep) channels were eroded by water flowing beneath Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers in the past. The channels are similar to canyon systems produced by floods of meltwater released beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet millions of years ago. The spatial extent of the channels formed beneath Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers demonstrates significant quantities of water, possibly discharged from trapped subglacial lakes, flowed beneath these glaciers in the past.
A series of huge (500 m wide, 50 m deep) channels were eroded by water flowing beneath Pine...
