Articles | Volume 10, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2043-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2043-2016
Research article
 | 
13 Sep 2016
Research article |  | 13 Sep 2016

Grounding and calving cycle of Mertz Ice Tongue revealed by shallow Mertz Bank

Xianwei Wang, David M. Holland, Xiao Cheng, and Peng Gong

Data sets

ICESat/GLAS data NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data Center) http://nsidc.org/data/order/icesat-glas-subsetter

EGM2008 (Earth Gravitational Model 2008) NGA http://earth-info.nga.mil/GandG/wgs84/gravitymod/egm2008/egm08_gis.html

Bedmap-2 data BAS (British Antarctic Survey) https://secure.antarctica.ac.uk/data/bedmap2/

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Short summary
MIT was reported to have calved subsequent to being rammed by a large iceberg. However from remote sensing, the ice fronts being rammed did not move out first which led us to detect the influence of seafloor on instability of MIT. Using Firn Air Content extracted from slightly grounded icebergs, laser altimetry, remote sensing, and seafloor topography data, grounding of the MIT caused by Mertz Bank is extracted. Mertz Bank is confirmed to control calving of the MIT at a cycle of ~70 years.