Articles | Volume 13, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2579-2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2579-2019
Research article
 | 
02 Oct 2019
Research article |  | 02 Oct 2019

Spatial and temporal variations in basal melting at Nivlisen ice shelf, East Antarctica, derived from phase-sensitive radars

Katrin Lindbäck, Geir Moholdt, Keith W. Nicholls, Tore Hattermann, Bhanu Pratap, Meloth Thamban, and Kenichi Matsuoka

Data sets

Basal melt and strain rates derived from phase-sensitive radars (ApRES) at Nivlisen ice shelf, East Antarctica K. Lindbäck, G. Moholdt, K. W. Nicholls, T. Hattermann, B. Pratap, M. Thamban, and K. Matsuoka https://doi.org/10.21334/npolar.2019.1de651fc

Ice flow and surface mass balance measurements from stakes at Nivlisen ice shelf, East Antarctica K. Lindbäck, G. Moholdt, K. W. Nicholls, T. Hattermann, B. Pratap, M. Thamban, and K. Matsuoka https://doi.org/10.21334/npolar.2019.ba0fc61e

Ice thickness from low-frequency radar profiling at Nivlisen ice shelf, East Antarctica K. Lindbäck, G. Moholdt, K. W. Nicholls, T. Hattermann, B. Pratap, M. Thamban, and K. Matsuoka https://doi.org/10.21334/npolar.2019.331e6f87

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Short summary
In this study, we used a ground-penetrating radar technique to measure melting at high precision under Nivlisen, an ice shelf in central Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. We found that summer-warmed ocean surface waters can increase melting close to the ice shelf front. Our study shows the use of and need for measurements in the field to monitor Antarctica's coastal margins; these detailed variations in basal melting are not captured in satellite data but are vital to predict future changes.