Thwaites Glacier thins and retreats fastest where ice-shelf channels intersect its grounding zone

Chartrand, Allison M.; Howat, Ian M.; Joughin, Ian R.; Smith, Benjamin E.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4971-2024

Articles | Volume 18, issue 11

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4971-2024

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

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4971-2024

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

Articles | Volume 18, issue 11

Research article

|

06 Nov 2024

Research article |

| 06 Nov 2024

Thwaites Glacier thins and retreats fastest where ice-shelf channels intersect its grounding zone

Allison M. Chartrand, Ian M. Howat, Ian R. Joughin, and Benjamin E. Smith

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4971-2024-supplement

Data sets

Thwaites Glacier thins and retreats fastest where ice-shelf channels intersect its grounding zone, dataset+code A. Chartrand https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13667120

The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica - Strips, Version 4.1 I. Howat et al. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/X7NDNY

The Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica - Mosaics, Version 2 I. Howat et al. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/EBW8UC

MEaSUREs BedMachine Antarctica M. Morlighem https://doi.org/10.5067/FPSU0V1MWUB6

MEaSUREs Antarctic Boundaries for IPY 2007-2009 from Satellite Radar J. Mouginot et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/AXE4121732AD

MEaSUREs Antarctic Grounding Line from Differential Satellite Radar Interferometry E. Rignot et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/IKBWW4RYHF1Q

MEaSUREs InSAR-Based Antarctica Ice Velocity Map E. Rignot et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/D7GK8F5J8M8R

MEaSUREs Annual Antarctic Ice Velocity Maps J. Mouginot et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/9T4EPQXTJYW9

ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Land Ice Height B. Smith et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL06.005

ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Land Ice Height B. Smith et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL06.006

IceBridge MCoRDS L2 Ice Thickness, IRMCR2 J. Paden et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/GDQ0CUCVTE2Q

IceBridge ATM L1B Elevation and Return Strength M. Studinger https://doi.org/10.5067/19SIM5TXKPGT

IceBridge LVIS-GH L2 Geolocated Surface Elevation Product J. B. Blair and M. Hofton https://doi.org/10.5067/RELPCEXB0MY3

IceBridge Riegl Laser Altimeter L2 Geolocated Surface Elevation Triplets D. D. Blankenship et al. https://doi.org/10.5067/JV9DENETK13E

CATS2008: Circum-Antarctic Tidal Simulation version 2008 S. L. Howard et al. https://doi.org/10.15784/601235

A new combined mean dynamic topography model - DTUUH22MDT (https://ftp.spacecenter.dk/pub/DTU22/MDT/) P. Knudsen et al. https://lps22.ollyservices.com/frontend/index.php@page_id=22743&additions_conferenceschedule_action=detail&additions_conferenceschedule_controller=paperList&pid=66775&hash=8ad0e796be2590c7caaf01e70e0282527300af9275f8c02945f34b7737625fd2.html

Short summary

This study uses high-resolution remote-sensing data to show that shrinking of the West Antarctic Thwaites Glacier’s ice shelf (floating extension) is exacerbated by several sub-ice-shelf meltwater channels that form as the glacier transitions from full contact with the seafloor to fully floating. In mapping these channels, the position of the transition zone, and thinning rates of the Thwaites Glacier, this work elucidates important processes driving its rapid contribution to sea level rise.