Detailed ice loss pattern in the northern Antarctic Peninsula: widespread decline driven by ice front retreats | CU Experts

Abstract. The northern Antarctic Peninsula (nAP, < 66° S) is one of the most rapidly changing glaciated regions on Earth, yet the spatial patterns of its ice mass loss at the glacier basin scale has to date been poorly documented. We use satellite laser altimetry and satellite stereo-image topography spanning 2001–2010 to map ice elevation change and infer mass changes for 33 glacier basins. Rates of ice volume and ice mass change are 27.7 ± 8.6 km3 a−1 and 24.9 ± 7.8 Gt a−1. This mass loss is compatible with recent gravimetric assessments, but it implies that almost all the gravimetry-inferred loss lies in the nAP sector. Mass loss is highest for eastern glaciers affected by major ice shelf collapses in 1995 and 2002, where twelve glaciers account for 60% of the total imbalance. However, losses at smaller rates occur throughout the nAP, and at high and low elevation, despite increased snow accumulation along the western coast and at high elevations. We interpret the widespread mass loss to be driven by decades of ice front retreats on both sides of the nAP, and by the propagation of kinematic waves triggered at the fronts into the interior.;

Scambos TA; Berthier E; Haran T; Shuman CA; Cook AJ; Ligtenberg SRM; Bohlander J

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