Researchers have discovered previously unseen shapes, including tear-shaped indentations, at the base of the Dotson Ice Shelf in West Antarctica.
These formations are primarily found in areas where warm ocean water is rapidly melting the ice from below.
The process of ice melting from beneath due to warm ocean water, known as basal melt, is a significant contributor to sea level rise.
Basal melt creates cavities in the ice shelf, weakening its structure and potentially leading to increased ice flow into the ocean.
The process occurs in deep, dark water, making it difficult to study.
Researchers used an Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with multibeam sonar to map the underside of the Dotson Ice Shelf.
The AUV collected data on water temperature, salinity, and currents, providing new insights into the melting process.
Strong underwater currents accelerate ice melt, as demonstrated by the faster melting rate in the western part of the Dotson Ice Shelf.
The presence of vertical fractures in the ice shelf contributes to increased melting rates.
The findings suggest that the mechanisms driving ice shelf melting are more complex than previously understood and may be occurring at other ice shelves as well.
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