Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-278
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-278
05 Nov 2021
 | 05 Nov 2021
Status: this discussion paper is a preprint. It has been under review for the journal The Cryosphere (TC). The manuscript was not accepted for further review after discussion.

Basal Water Storage Variations beneath Antarctic Ice Sheet Inferred from Multi-source Satellite Data

Jingyu Kang, Yang Lu, Yan Li, Zizhan Zhang, and Hongling Shi

Abstract. Antarctic basal water storage variations (BWSV) refer to the mass variations of liquid water beneath Antarctic ice sheet. Identifying these variations is critical to understand the behaviour of ice sheet, yet it is rarely accessible to direct observation. We presented a layered gravity density forward/inversion method for estimating Antarctic BWSV from multi- source satellite observation data, and relevant models. Results reveal spatial variability of BWSV with the mean rate of 43 ± 13 Gt/yr during 2003–2009, which is 21 Gt/yr lower than basal melting rate. This indicates that the basal meltwater beneath Antarctic ice sheet is decreasing with the rate of −21 ± 13 Gt/yr, accounting for 28 % of the mass balance rate (−76 Gt/yr, Shepherd et al. (2018)), and the basal water migrations between basal drainage systems and oceans is non-ignorable in estimating basal mass balance of Antarctic ice sheet. Similar spatial distribution of basal water increases regions and locations of active subglacial lakes indicates that basal water storage in most active subglacial lakes is increasing. In most region of Antarctic ice sheet except Amundsen Sea coast region, the comparison of spatial BWSV and ice velocity displays a positive correlation between considerable basal water increases and rapid/accelerated ice flows, which indicates that BWSV appear to have an important effect on ice flows. Accordingly, we infer that further enhanced flow velocities are expected if basal water continues to increase in these regions.

Jingyu Kang, Yang Lu, Yan Li, Zizhan Zhang, and Hongling Shi

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on tc-2021-278', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Dec 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on tc-2021-278', Anonymous Referee #2, 01 Feb 2022

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on tc-2021-278', Anonymous Referee #1, 13 Dec 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on tc-2021-278', Anonymous Referee #2, 01 Feb 2022
Jingyu Kang, Yang Lu, Yan Li, Zizhan Zhang, and Hongling Shi
Jingyu Kang, Yang Lu, Yan Li, Zizhan Zhang, and Hongling Shi

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Short summary
Antarctic basal water storage variations (BWSV) effect basal effective pressure and produces changing ice velocity, yet it is rarely accessible to direct observation. We estimated the BWSV by using multisource satellite data. Result revealed BWSV is increasing with the rate of 43 ± 13 Gt/yr. Basal water in most active subglacial lakes is increasing, despite water discharging occur frequently. Fierce basal water increases are often accompanied with massive rapid and accelerated ice flows.