East Antarctica May be Melting Due to Open Oceanic Gateways

Scientists may have found new passageways that could cause East Antarctica's largest and most rapidly thinning glacier to melt even further. They've discovered two seafloor gateways that may allow warm water to flow toward the glacier.

Totten Glacier is East Antarctica's largest outlet of ice to the ocean and has been thinning rapidly for many years. Although deep, warm water has been seen seaward of the glacier. Until now, though, there has been no evidence that it could compromise coastal ice.

"We now know there are avenues for the warmest waters in East Antarctica to access the most sensitive areas of Totten Glacier," said Jamin Greenbaum, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The researchers conducted five Antarctic field campaigns using aircraft loaded with equipment to analyze the ice and seafloor in regions that even icebreakers are unable to reach. In the end, the researchers found the two new passageways.

Because the California-sized interior basin lies below sea level, its overlying thicker ice is susceptible to rapid loss if warm ocean currents sufficiently thin coastal ice. This is important to note for future predictions.

"Now we know the ocean is melting ice in an area of the glacier that we thought was totally cut off before," said Greenbaum. "Knowing this will improve predictions of ice melt and the timing of future glacier retreat."

The findings reveal a bit more about the East Antarctic. As temperatures continue to warm, it's crucial to note what factors are at play.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

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