First geodetic mass balance estimate of the bulk of the South Shetland Islands ice caps

The Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet is an important contributor to sea-level rise and the glaciers in its peripheral islands have a large potential to increase their contribution under a warming climate. This region has undergone a complex history of climate change during recent decades, which justifies a close monitoring of their glaciers. The South Shetland Islands (SSI) is one of the northernmost archipelagos in this region, but it is lacking a geodetic mass balance (GMB) calculation for the entire archipelago. We have estimated the GMB of the SSI over a 3-4 years period within 2013-2017 (depending on the data availability for each island). Our estimation is based on remotely-sensed multispectral and interferometric SAR data covering 96% of the glacierized areas of the islands considered in our study, and 73% of the total glacierized area of the SSI archipelago (Elephant, Clarence and Smith Islands were excluded due to overly large slopes for SAR or limited input data). Our Results show a close-to-balance overall status during the analyzed period, with specific mass balances ranging from -0.680&#177;0.071 to 0.209&#177;0.025 m w.e. a-1 on Low and Livingston islands, respectively. The average specific mass balance for the whole area is -0.064&#177;0.015 m w.e. a-1, representing an ice mass loss of 0.144&#177;0.035 Gt a-1. This result is consistent with the cooling trend observed in the region between 1998 and 2017, and with the mass balance estimates by the glaciological method performed in various glaciers in the AP region (and the SSI in particular).

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Geodetic Mass Balance of the South Shetland Islands Ice Caps, Antarctica, from Differencing TanDEM-X DEMs

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13173408 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (17) ◽

pp. 3408

Author(s):

Kaian Shahateet ◽

Thorsten Seehaus ◽

Francisco Navarro ◽

Christian Sommer ◽

Matthias Braun

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

South Shetland Islands ◽

The South ◽

Mass Balance Calculation ◽

Shetland Islands ◽

Ice Caps ◽

The North ◽

Data Limitations ◽

Geodetic Mass Balance ◽

The Antarctic

Although the glaciers in the Antarctic periphery currently modestly contribute to sea level rise, their contribution is projected to increase substantially until the end of the 21st century. The South Shetland Islands (SSI), located to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula, are lacking a geodetic mass balance calculation for the entire archipelago. We estimated its geodetic mass balance over a 3–4-year period within 2013–2017. Our estimation is based on remotely sensed multispectral and interferometric SAR data covering 96% of the glacierized areas of the islands considered in our study and 73% of the total glacierized area of the SSI archipelago (Elephant, Clarence, and Smith Islands were excluded due to data limitations). Our results show a close to balance, slightly negative average specific mass balance for the whole area of −0.106 ± 0.007 m w.e. a−1, representing a mass change of −238 ± 12 Mt a−1. These results are consistent with a wider scale geodetic mass balance estimation and with glaciological mass balance measurements at SSI locations for the same study period. They are also consistent with the cooling trend observed in the region between 1998 and the mid-2010s.

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The Maximum Ice Extent on Island Groups in the Scotia Sea, Antarctica

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/0033-5894(77)90041-2 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 268-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

D.E. Sugden ◽

C.M. Clapperton

Keyword(s):

Ice Cover ◽

South Shetland Islands ◽

Falkland Islands ◽

The South ◽

Scotia Sea ◽

Shetland Islands ◽

South Georgia ◽

Orkney Islands ◽

Ice Caps ◽

The Antarctic

Evidence is presented for a more extensive ice cover over South Georgia, the South Orkney Islands, the South Shetland Islands, and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ice extended across the adjacent submarine shelves to a depth of 200 m below present sea level. Troughs cut into the submarine shelves by ice streams or outlet glaciers and ice-scoured features on the shelf areas suggest that the ice caps were warm-based. The South Shetland Islands appear not to have been overrun by continental ice. Geomorphological evidence in two island groups suggests that the maximum ice cover, which was responsible for the bulk of glacial erosion, predates at least one full glaciation. Subsequently there was a marine interval and then a glaciation which overran all of the lowlying peninsulas. The Falkland Islands, only 2° of latitude north of South Georgia, were never covered by an ice cap and supported only a few slightly enlarged cirque glaciers. This suggests that the major oceanographic and atmospheric boundary represented by the Antarctic Convergence, which is presently situated between the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, has remained in a similar position throughout the glacial age. Its position is probably bathymetrically controlled.

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