Atmospheric extremes caused high oceanward sea surface slope triggering the biggest calving event in more than 50 years at the Amery Ice Shelf

5 May 2021

The unexpected September 2019 calving event from the Amery Ice Shelf, the largest since 1963 and which occurred almost a decade earlier than expected, was triggered by atmospheric extremes. Explosive twin polar cyclones provided a deterministic role in this event by creating oceanward sea surface slope triggering the calving. The observed record-anomalous atmospheric conditions were promoted by blocking ridges and Antarctic-wide anomalous poleward transport of heat and moisture.

The press release by the Khalifa University can be found at: https://www.ku.ac.ae/atmospheric-extremes-triggered-the-biggest-calving-event-at-an-antarctica-ice-shelf-in-more-than-50-years-reports-khalifa-university-team

The press release by Nature Middle East can be found at: https://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2021.41

Contact: Diana Francis (diana.francis@ku.ac.ae)