Antarctic Submarine Melt Variability from Remote Sensing of Icebergs

The project uses repeat, very high-resolution (~0.5 m pixel width and length) satellite images acquired by the WorldView satellites, to estimate rates of iceberg melting in key coastal regions around Antarctica. The satellite images are used to construct maps of iceberg surface elevation change over time, which are converted to estimates of area-averaged submarine melt rates. Where ocean temperature observations are available, the melt rates are compared to these data to determine if variations in ocean temperature can explain observed iceberg melt variability. The iceberg melt rates are also compared to glacier frontal ablation rates (flow towards the terminus minus changes in terminus position over time) and integrated into a numerical ice flow model in order to assess the importance of submarine melting on recent changes in terminus position, ice flow, and dynamic mass loss. Overall, the analysis will yield insights into the effects of changes in ocean forcing on the submarine melting of Antarctic ice shelves and icebergs. The project does not require field work in Antarctica.