학술논문

Intense atmospheric rivers can weaken ice shelf stability at the Antarctic Peninsula
Document Type
Original Paper
Source
Communications Earth & Environment. 3(1)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
2662-4435
Abstract
The disintegration of the ice shelves along the Antarctic Peninsula have spurred much discussion on the various processes leading to their eventual dramatic collapse, but without a consensus on an atmospheric forcing that could connect these processes. Here, using an atmospheric river detection algorithm along with a regional climate model and satellite observations, we show that the most intense atmospheric rivers induce extremes in temperature, surface melt, sea-ice disintegration, or large swells that destabilize the ice shelves with 40% probability. This was observed during the collapses of the Larsen A and B ice shelves during the summers of 1995 and 2002 respectively. Overall, 60% of calving events from 2000–2020 were triggered by atmospheric rivers. The loss of the buttressing effect from these ice shelves leads to further continental ice loss and subsequent sea-level rise. Under future warming projections, the Larsen C ice shelf will be at-risk from the same processes.
The most intense atmospheric rivers to hit the Antarctic Peninsula induce extremes in temperature, surface melt, sea ice disintegration or swell that destabilize the ice shelves with 40% probability, suggest analyses of observations and regional climate model simulations.