Localized rapid warming of West Antarctic subsurface waters by remote winds

Paul Spence (), Ryan M. Holmes, Andrew McC. Hogg, Stephen M. Griffies, Kial D. Stewart and Matthew H. England
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Paul Spence: ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science and Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales
Ryan M. Holmes: ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science and Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales
Andrew McC. Hogg: ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science and Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University
Stephen M. Griffies: NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Kial D. Stewart: ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science and Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University
Matthew H. England: ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science and Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales

Nature Climate Change, 2017, vol. 7, issue 8, 595-603

Abstract: Abstract The highest rates of Antarctic glacial ice mass loss are occurring to the west of the Antarctica Peninsula in regions where warming of subsurface continental shelf waters is also largest. However, the physical mechanisms responsible for this warming remain unknown. Here we show how localized changes in coastal winds off East Antarctica can produce significant subsurface temperature anomalies (>2 °C) around much of the continent. We demonstrate how coastal-trapped barotropic Kelvin waves communicate the wind disturbance around the Antarctic coastline. The warming is focused on the western flank of the Antarctic Peninsula because the circulation induced by the coastal-trapped waves is intensified by the steep continental slope there, and because of the presence of pre-existing warm subsurface water offshore. The adjustment to the coastal-trapped waves shoals the subsurface isotherms and brings warm deep water upwards onto the continental shelf and closer to the coast. This result demonstrates the vulnerability of the West Antarctic region to a changing climate.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/nclimate3335

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