Journal Article

Bathymetry of the Antarctic continental shelf and ice shelf cavities from circumpolar gravity anomalies and other data

University of California [Irvine] (UC Irvine) ; University of California (UC), Millan, Romain, Charrassin, Raphaelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Scheinert, Mirko, Rignot, Eric, Department of Physics [TU Dresden] ; Technische Universität Dresden = Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden), Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement (IGE) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble (Fédération OSUG)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP) ; Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)

2025

Overview

Bathymetry critically influences the intrusion of warm Circumpolar Deep Water onto the continental shelf and under ice shelf cavities in Antarctica, thereby forcing ice melting, grounding line retreat, and sea level rise. We present a novel and comprehensive bathymetry of Antarctica that includes all ice shelf cavities and previously unmeasured continental shelf areas. The new bathymetry is based on a 3D inversion of a circumpolar compilation of gravity anomalies constrained by measurements from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean, BedMachine Antarctica, and discrete seafloor measurements from seismic and ocean robotic probes. Previously unknown troughs with thicker ice shelf cavities are revealed in many parts of Antarctica, especially East Antarctica. The greater depths of troughs on the continental shelf and ice shelf cavities imply that many glaciers are more vulnerable to ocean subsurface warming than previously thought, which may increase the projections of sea level rise from Antarctica.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group,CCSD,Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 704/106/125 / 704/829/2737 / Autonomous underwater vehicles / Bathymetry / Cavities / Continental shelves / Deep water / Environmental Sciences / Geodetics / Glaciers / Gravity / Humanities and Social Sciences / Ice / Ice melting / Ice shelves / multidisciplinary / Ocean floor / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Sea level / Sea level rise / Standard deviation / Topography