The Cryosphere
The Cryosphere
TC
Articles | Volume 18, issue 2
Articles | Volume 18, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-705-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-705-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 18, issue 2
Brief communication
 | Highlight paper
 | 
13 Feb 2024
Brief communication | Highlight paper |  | 13 Feb 2024

Brief communication: Rapid acceleration of the Brunt Ice Shelf after calving of iceberg A-81

Oliver J. Marsh, Adrian J. Luckman, and Dominic A. Hodgson

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-705-2024-supplement

Data sets

GPS data from Brunt Ice Shelf close to the site of Halley VI Research Station from 2013 to August 2023 (Version 1.0) [Data set] O. Marsh https://doi.org/10.5285/76dec018-3ea8-4ecc-9b53-5dd915daf214

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Co-editor-in-chief
The ongoing acceleration and disintegration of Antarctic ice shelves is a topic of keen interest to the scientific community. Recent years have seen multiple calving events, some of which have produced large icebergs. In this study, the effect of such a large iceberg-calving event is studied through remote sensing data. The authors show how the break-off of the iceberg led to significant ice speed-up, demonstrating the important effect of calving on the ice shelves.
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Short summary
The Brunt Ice Shelf has accelerated rapidly after calving an iceberg in January 2023. A decade of GPS data show that the rate of acceleration in August 2023 was 30 times higher than before calving, and velocity has doubled in 6 months. Satellite velocity maps show the extent of the change. The acceleration is due to loss of contact between the ice shelf and a pinning point known as the McDonald Ice Rumples. The observations highlight how iceberg calving can directly impact ice shelves.
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