Seasonal and diurnal variability of sub-ice platelet layer thickness in McMurdo Sound from electromagnetic induction sounding

Brett, Gemma M.; Leonard, Greg H.; Rack, Wolfgang; Haas, Christian; Langhorne, Patricia J.; Robinson, Natalie J.; Irvin, Anne

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3049-2024

Articles | Volume 18, issue 7

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3049-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3049-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 18, issue 7

Research article

|

04 Jul 2024

Research article |

| 04 Jul 2024

Seasonal and diurnal variability of sub-ice platelet layer thickness in McMurdo Sound from electromagnetic induction sounding

Gemma M. Brett, Greg H. Leonard, Wolfgang Rack, Christian Haas, Patricia J. Langhorne, Natalie J. Robinson, and Anne Irvin

Data sets

Drill hole measurements of fast ice and sub-ice platelet layer thickness, and snow depth in McMurdo Sound - November 2018 G. M. Brett et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.933050

Spring 2018 time-series measurement of land-fast sea ice and sub-ice platelet layer thicknesses from electromagnetic induction soundings in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica G. M. Brett et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.968700

Winter 2018 time-series measurement of land-fast sea ice and sub-ice platelet layer thicknesses from electromagnetic induction soundings in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica G. M. Brett et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.968699

Late spring 2018 land-fast sea ice and sub-ice platelet layer thicknesses from electromagnetic induction soundings along repeated west to to east transects in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica G. M. Brett et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.968701

Short summary

Glacial meltwater with ice crystals flows from beneath ice shelves, causing thicker sea ice with sub-ice platelet layers (SIPLs) beneath. Thicker sea ice and SIPL reveal where and how much meltwater is outflowing. We collected continuous measurements of sea ice and SIPL. In winter, we observed rapid SIPL growth with strong winds. In spring, SIPLs grew when tides caused offshore circulation. Wind-driven and tidal circulation influence glacial meltwater outflow from ice shelf cavities.