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www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/5/655/2011/
doi:10.5194/tcd-5-655-2011
© Author(s) 2011. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Refined broad-scale sub-glacial morphology of Aurora Subglacial Basin, East Antarctica derived by an ice-dynamics-based interpolation scheme
1Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
2Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, Private Bag 80, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
3Institute of Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
4School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
5Geofisica, Universita di Milano, Milan, Italy
6Istituto Nazionale Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy
7Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile, Rome, Italy
Abstract. Ice thickness data over much of East Antarctica are sparse and irregularly distributed. This poses difficulties for reconstructing the homogeneous coverage needed to properly assess underlying sub-glacial morphology and fundamental geometric constraints on sea level rise. Here we introduce a new physically-based ice thickness interpolation scheme and apply this to existing ice thickness data in the Aurora Subglacial Basin region. The skill and robustness of the new reconstruction is demonstrated by comparison with new data from the ICECAP project. The interpolated morphology shows an extensive marine-based ice sheet, with considerably more area below sea-level than shown by prior studies. It also shows deep features connecting the coastal grounding zone with the deepest regions in the interior. This has implications for ice sheet response to a warming ocean and underscores the importance of obtaining additional high resolution data in these marginal zones for modelling ice sheet evolution.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 1550 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 4 Comments) Final Revised Paper (TC)
Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Roberts, J. L., Warner, R. C., Young, D., Wright, A., van Ommen, T. D., Blankenship, D. D., Siegert, M., Young, N. W., Tabacco, I. E., Forieri, A., Passerini, A., Zirizzotti, A., and Frezzotti, M.: Refined broad-scale sub-glacial morphology of Aurora Subglacial Basin, East Antarctica derived by an ice-dynamics-based interpolation scheme, The Cryosphere Discuss., 5, 655-684, doi:10.5194/tcd-5-655-2011, 2011. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
