Footprint of sustained poleward warm water flow within East Antarctic submarine canyons

Federica Donda (), Michele Rebesco, Vedrana Kovacevic, Alessandro Silvano, Manuel Bensi, Laura Santis, Yair Rosenthal, Fiorenza Torricella, Luca Baradello, Davide Gei, Amy Leventer, Alix Post, German Leitchenkov, Taryn Noble, Fabrizio Zgur, Andrea Cova, Philip O’Brien and Roberto Romeo
Additional contact information
Federica Donda: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Michele Rebesco: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Vedrana Kovacevic: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Alessandro Silvano: University of Southampton, University Road
Manuel Bensi: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Laura Santis: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Yair Rosenthal: State University of New Jersey
Fiorenza Torricella: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Luca Baradello: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Davide Gei: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Amy Leventer: Colgate University
Alix Post: GPO Box 378
German Leitchenkov: The All-Russia Scientific Research Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the Ocean
Taryn Noble: University of Tasmania
Fabrizio Zgur: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Andrea Cova: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c
Philip O’Brien: Macquarie University
Roberto Romeo: Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The intrusion of relatively warm water onto the continental shelf is widely recognized as a threat to Antarctic ice shelves and glaciers grounded below sea level, as enhanced ocean heat increases their basal melt. While the circulation of warm water has been documented on the East Antarctic continental shelf, the modes of warm water transport from the deep ocean onto the shelf are still uncertain. This makes predicting the future responses of major East Antarctic marine-grounded glaciers, such as Totten and Ninnis glaciers, particularly challenging. Here, we outline the key role of submarine canyons to convey southward flowing currents that transport warm Circumpolar Deep Water toward the East Antarctic shelf break, thus facilitating warm water intrusion on the continental shelf. Sediment drifts on the eastern flank of the canyons provide evidence for sustained southward-directed flows. These morpho-sedimentary features thus highlight areas potentially prone to enhanced ocean heat transport toward the continental shelf, with repercussions for past, present, and future glacial melting and consequent sea level rise.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50160-z

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