Intrinsic processes drive variability in basal melting of the Totten Glacier Ice Shelf

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05618-2
• Publication Date: 2018-08-01T14:24:38Z
• Authors: David E. Gwyther; Terence J. O’Kane; Benjamin K. Galto...; Didier P. Monselesan; Jamin S. Greenbaum
• Keywords: Forcing (mathematics); Basal (medicine)

Over the period 2003-2008, Totten Ice Shelf (TIS) was shown to be rapidly thinning, likely due basal melting. However, a recent study using longer time series found high interannual variability present in TIS surface elevation without any apparent trend. Here we show that low-frequency intrinsic ocean potentially accounts for large fraction of melting TIS. Specifically, numerical model simulations up 44% modelled 1-5 year timescale (and 21% 5-10 timescale) is intrinsic, with similar response full climate forcing. We identify important role setting observed variation thickness and velocity. Our results further demonstrate need account processes detection attribution change.