Antarctic Icequakes: Unraveling the Ocean Tide Connection

A study by Penn State researchers has found that icequakes in Antarctica, similar to earthquakes but caused by the movement of ice, are driven by ocean tides at the Foundation Ice Stream in West Antarctica. Seismic monitors recorded over 2,200 icequakes over a five-year period, with the majority occurring around the grounding line where the ice transitions from sitting on bedrock to floating on the ocean. The icequakes are believed to be caused by stress accumulation and release between the ice and bedrock as tides rise and push the ice upward. Understanding these processes is crucial for comprehending ice mass loss from Antarctica.