Assessing the potential for ice flow piracy between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers, East Antarctica

Felicity S. McCormack; Jason L. Roberts; Bernd Kulessa; Alan Aitken; Christine F. Dow; Lawrence Bird; Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi; Katharina Hochmuth; Richard S. Jones; Andrew N. MacKintosh; Koi McArthur

doi:10.5194/tc-17-4549-2023

Assessing the potential for ice flow piracy between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers, East Antarctica

Felicity S. McCormack
, Jason L. Roberts
, Bernd Kulessa
, Alan Aitken
, Christine F. Dow
, Lawrence Bird
, Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi
, Katharina Hochmuth
, Richard S. Jones
, Andrew N. MacKintosh
, Koi McArthur

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The largest regional drivers of current surface elevation increases in the Antarctic Ice Sheet are associated with ice flow reconfiguration in previously active ice streams, highlighting the important role of ice dynamics in mass balance calculations. Here, we investigate controls on the evolution of the flow configuration of the Vanderford and Totten glaciers - key outlet glaciers of the Aurora Subglacial Basin (ASB) - the most rapidly thinning region of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). We synthesise factors that influence the ice flow in this region and use an ice sheet model to investigate the sensitivity of the catchment divide location to changes in surface elevation due to thinning at the Vanderford Glacier (VG) associated with ongoing retreat and thickening at the Totten Glacier (TG) associated with an intensification of the east-west snowfall gradient. The present-day catchment divide between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers is not constrained by the geology or topography but is determined by the large-scale ice sheet geometry and its long-term evolution in response to climate forcing. Furthermore, the catchment divide migrates under relatively small changes in surface elevation, leading to ice flow and basal water piracy from the Totten to the Vanderford Glacier. Our findings show that ice flow reconfigurations occur not only in regions of West Antarctica like the Siple Coast but also in the east, motivating further investigations of past, and the potential for future, ice flow reconfigurations around the whole Antarctic coastline. Modelling of ice flow and basal water piracy may require coupled ice sheet thermomechanical and subglacial hydrology models constrained by field observations of subglacial conditions. Our results have implications for ice sheet mass budget studies that integrate over catchments and the validity of the zero flow assumption when selecting sites for ice core records of past climate.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4549-4569
Number of pages	21
Journal	The Cryosphere
Volume	17
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4549-2023
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2023

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Cite this

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title = "Assessing the potential for ice flow piracy between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers, East Antarctica",

abstract = "The largest regional drivers of current surface elevation increases in the Antarctic Ice Sheet are associated with ice flow reconfiguration in previously active ice streams, highlighting the important role of ice dynamics in mass balance calculations. Here, we investigate controls on the evolution of the flow configuration of the Vanderford and Totten glaciers - key outlet glaciers of the Aurora Subglacial Basin (ASB) - the most rapidly thinning region of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). We synthesise factors that influence the ice flow in this region and use an ice sheet model to investigate the sensitivity of the catchment divide location to changes in surface elevation due to thinning at the Vanderford Glacier (VG) associated with ongoing retreat and thickening at the Totten Glacier (TG) associated with an intensification of the east-west snowfall gradient. The present-day catchment divide between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers is not constrained by the geology or topography but is determined by the large-scale ice sheet geometry and its long-term evolution in response to climate forcing. Furthermore, the catchment divide migrates under relatively small changes in surface elevation, leading to ice flow and basal water piracy from the Totten to the Vanderford Glacier. Our findings show that ice flow reconfigurations occur not only in regions of West Antarctica like the Siple Coast but also in the east, motivating further investigations of past, and the potential for future, ice flow reconfigurations around the whole Antarctic coastline. Modelling of ice flow and basal water piracy may require coupled ice sheet thermomechanical and subglacial hydrology models constrained by field observations of subglacial conditions. Our results have implications for ice sheet mass budget studies that integrate over catchments and the validity of the zero flow assumption when selecting sites for ice core records of past climate.",

author = "McCormack, \{Felicity S.\} and Roberts, \{Jason L.\} and Bernd Kulessa and Alan Aitken and Dow, \{Christine F.\} and Lawrence Bird and Galton-Fenzi, \{Benjamin K.\} and Katharina Hochmuth and Jones, \{Richard S.\} and MacKintosh, \{Andrew N.\} and Koi McArthur",

note = "Funding Information: This research has been supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Special Research Initiative (SRI) Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SR200100005), ARC Discovery Early Career Awards (DE210101433, DE210101923), the ARC SRI Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (SR200100008), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (grant no. NSERC RGPIN; 03761-2017), and the Canada Research Chairs (grant no. CRC 950-231237). Funding Information: We thank Poul Christoffersen for helpful discussions that improved the paper. This research was undertaken using resources from the National Computational Infrastructure Merit Allocation Scheme, supported by the Australian Government. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Felicity S. McCormack et al.",

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AU - McCormack, Felicity S.

AU - Roberts, Jason L.

AU - Kulessa, Bernd

AU - Aitken, Alan

AU - Dow, Christine F.

AU - Bird, Lawrence

AU - Galton-Fenzi, Benjamin K.

AU - Hochmuth, Katharina

AU - Jones, Richard S.

AU - MacKintosh, Andrew N.

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N1 - Funding Information: This research has been supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Special Research Initiative (SRI) Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SR200100005), ARC Discovery Early Career Awards (DE210101433, DE210101923), the ARC SRI Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (SR200100008), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (grant no. NSERC RGPIN; 03761-2017), and the Canada Research Chairs (grant no. CRC 950-231237). Funding Information: We thank Poul Christoffersen for helpful discussions that improved the paper. This research was undertaken using resources from the National Computational Infrastructure Merit Allocation Scheme, supported by the Australian Government. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Felicity S. McCormack et al.

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N2 - The largest regional drivers of current surface elevation increases in the Antarctic Ice Sheet are associated with ice flow reconfiguration in previously active ice streams, highlighting the important role of ice dynamics in mass balance calculations. Here, we investigate controls on the evolution of the flow configuration of the Vanderford and Totten glaciers - key outlet glaciers of the Aurora Subglacial Basin (ASB) - the most rapidly thinning region of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). We synthesise factors that influence the ice flow in this region and use an ice sheet model to investigate the sensitivity of the catchment divide location to changes in surface elevation due to thinning at the Vanderford Glacier (VG) associated with ongoing retreat and thickening at the Totten Glacier (TG) associated with an intensification of the east-west snowfall gradient. The present-day catchment divide between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers is not constrained by the geology or topography but is determined by the large-scale ice sheet geometry and its long-term evolution in response to climate forcing. Furthermore, the catchment divide migrates under relatively small changes in surface elevation, leading to ice flow and basal water piracy from the Totten to the Vanderford Glacier. Our findings show that ice flow reconfigurations occur not only in regions of West Antarctica like the Siple Coast but also in the east, motivating further investigations of past, and the potential for future, ice flow reconfigurations around the whole Antarctic coastline. Modelling of ice flow and basal water piracy may require coupled ice sheet thermomechanical and subglacial hydrology models constrained by field observations of subglacial conditions. Our results have implications for ice sheet mass budget studies that integrate over catchments and the validity of the zero flow assumption when selecting sites for ice core records of past climate.

AB - The largest regional drivers of current surface elevation increases in the Antarctic Ice Sheet are associated with ice flow reconfiguration in previously active ice streams, highlighting the important role of ice dynamics in mass balance calculations. Here, we investigate controls on the evolution of the flow configuration of the Vanderford and Totten glaciers - key outlet glaciers of the Aurora Subglacial Basin (ASB) - the most rapidly thinning region of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). We synthesise factors that influence the ice flow in this region and use an ice sheet model to investigate the sensitivity of the catchment divide location to changes in surface elevation due to thinning at the Vanderford Glacier (VG) associated with ongoing retreat and thickening at the Totten Glacier (TG) associated with an intensification of the east-west snowfall gradient. The present-day catchment divide between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers is not constrained by the geology or topography but is determined by the large-scale ice sheet geometry and its long-term evolution in response to climate forcing. Furthermore, the catchment divide migrates under relatively small changes in surface elevation, leading to ice flow and basal water piracy from the Totten to the Vanderford Glacier. Our findings show that ice flow reconfigurations occur not only in regions of West Antarctica like the Siple Coast but also in the east, motivating further investigations of past, and the potential for future, ice flow reconfigurations around the whole Antarctic coastline. Modelling of ice flow and basal water piracy may require coupled ice sheet thermomechanical and subglacial hydrology models constrained by field observations of subglacial conditions. Our results have implications for ice sheet mass budget studies that integrate over catchments and the validity of the zero flow assumption when selecting sites for ice core records of past climate.

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Assessing the potential for ice flow piracy between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers, East Antarctica

Abstract

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Other files and links

Characteristics and controls of ice sheet loss on centennial timescales

From creeping to sliding: controls on Antarctic Ice Sheet flow processes

SAEF: Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future – An Evidence-Based, Informatics Approach

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Assessing the potential for ice flow piracy between the Totten and Vanderford glaciers, East Antarctica

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

Characteristics and controls of ice sheet loss on centennial timescales

From creeping to sliding: controls on Antarctic Ice Sheet flow processes

SAEF: Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future – An Evidence-Based, Informatics Approach

Cite this