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Solid Earth change and the evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet
Pippa L Whitehouse1, Natalya Gomez2, Matt A King3
1Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, UK, DH1 3LE. pippa.whitehouse@durham.ac.uk.
Nature Communications
|February 1, 2019
Summary
Antarctic ice sheet changes reshape Earth's solid crust through isostasy and erosion. These solid Earth feedbacks influence ice sheet dynamics and future sea-level rise contributions.
Area of Science:
- Geophysics
- Glaciology
- Climate Science
Background:
- Antarctica's ice sheet has the potential to contribute significantly to future sea-level rise.
- Ice sheet evolution is influenced by climate forcing and non-climatic feedbacks.
- Understanding these feedbacks is crucial for predicting future ice sheet behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the feedbacks between the Antarctic ice sheet and the solid Earth.
- To explore the role of these feedbacks in past and future ice sheet responses to climate change.
- To highlight the importance of Earth's rheological properties in these interactions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on ice-sheet-solid Earth interactions.
- Analysis of isostatic adjustments and erosion processes.
- Examination of how Earth's rheology modulates feedback timescales and strengths.
Main Results:
- Antarctic ice sheet growth and decay reshape the solid Earth via isostasy and erosion.
- The bedrock topography fundamentally controls ice dynamics and grounding line position.
- Spatial variations in Earth's rheology complicate ice-sheet-solid Earth feedbacks.
Conclusions:
- Solid Earth feedbacks are integral to Antarctic ice sheet evolution.
- Accurate modeling of future ice sheet behavior requires incorporating these complex feedbacks.
- Variations in Earth's rheology must be considered for precise sea-level rise predictions.
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