The shape of change: An EOF approach to identifying sources

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TitleThe shape of change: An EOF approach to identifying sources of transient thickness change in an ice shelfAbstractRoss Ice Shelf (RIS) is known to experience transient thickness change due to changes in the flow of its tributary ice streams and glaciers and this may complicate identification of external, climate-forced signals in contemporary observations of ice shelf thinning and thickening. Flux changes at the lateral boundaries produce both instantaneous and longer timescale adjustments in the coupled velocity and thickness fields. Here, we adapt a statistical approach to output from a numerical model of ice shelf flow to identify characteristic patterns (spatial response surfaces) associated with stepped and cyclic perturbations to boundary fluxes. Once known, characteristic patterns identified in observational data may be attributed to specific sources. An example involving discharge of Byrd Glacier into RIS is described. We find that spatial response surfaces for thickness and velocity generated in individual flow model experiments appear to be independent of flux perturbation shape and magnitude. Additionally, recent acceleration of Byrd Glacier is apparent in ICESat-detected change in RIS thickness. © The Author(s) 2017.

Details

1st AuthorCampbell, A. AuthorCampbell, A.Hulbe, C.Choon-Ki, L.Year2017JournalAnnals of GlaciologyVolume58Number74Pages21-27DOI10.1017/aog.2017.16URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/recor.....efd367edb67c30e77da9dd16bPublisherCambridge University PressKeywordsaltimetryclimate forcingempirical orthogonal function analysisexperimental studyflow modelingglacierglaciologyice flowice shelfice streamice thicknesslaser methodshape, AntarcticaByrd GlacierEast AntarcticaRoss Ice ShelfWest Antarctica, rank5Author KeywordsGlaciological model experimentsIce shelvesLaser altimetry

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CitationCampbell, A., Hulbe, C. and Choon-Ki, L. (2017). The shape of change: An EOF approach to identifying sources of transient thickness change in an ice shelf. Annals of Glaciology, 58(74): 21-27Relevancerank5Antarctica NZ supported?YesNZARI?Yes