Antarctic Ice Shelves at Risk from Ocean Currents, Study Warns

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that the interplay between meandering ocean currents and the ocean floor induces upwelling velocity, transporting warm water to shallower depths, contributing substantially to the melting of ice shelves in the Amundsen Sea of West Antarctica. The Pine Island and Thwaites ice shelves are among the fastest-changing in Antarctica and are of particular interest due to their vulnerability to warming ocean waters, posing a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide because of the resulting rise in global sea levels. The study challenges prior assumptions and underscores the significant role played by the interactions between meandering ocean currents and the ocean floor in driving the melting process, emphasizing the importance of the ocean in understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change.