The foundations of the Patagonian icefields
Furst, Johannes J.
University of Erlangen Nuremberg
Farias-Barahona, David
University of Erlangen Nuremberg
Blindow, Norbert
University of Erlangen Nuremberg
Gacitua, Guisella
Danish Meteorological Institute DMI
Koppes, Michele
University of British Columbia
Lodolo, Emanuele
Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale
Millan, Romain
University of Copenhagen
Minowa, Masahiro
Hokkaido University
Mouginot, Jeremie
Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD)
Petlicki, Michal
Ctr Estudios Cient
Rignot, Eric
University of California System
Rivera, Andres
Universidad de Chile
Skvarca, Pedro
Glaciarium Glacier Interpret Ctr
Stuefer, Martin
University of Alaska System
Sugiyama, Shin
Hokkaido University
Uribe, Jose
Ctr Estudios Cient
Zamora, Rodrigo
Ctr Estudios Cient
Braun, Matthias H.
University of Erlangen Nuremberg
Gillet-Chaulet, Fabien
Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD)
Malz, Philipp
University of Erlangen Nuremberg
Meier, Wolfgang J. -H.
University of Erlangen Nuremberg
Schaefer, Marius
Universidad Austral de Chile
Journal
Communications Earth and Environment
ISSN
2662-4435
Open Access
gold
Volume
5
The two vast Patagonian icefields are a global hotspot for ice-loss. However, not much is known about the total ice volume they store - let alone its spatial distribution. One reason is that the abundant record of direct thickness measurements has never been systematically exploited. Here, this record is combined with remotely-sensed information on past ice thickness mapped from glacier retreat. Both datasets are incorporated in a state-of-the-art, mass-conservation approach to produce a well-informed map of the basal topography beneath the icefields. Its major asset is the reliability increase of thicknesses values along the many marine- and lake-terminating glaciers. For these, frontal ice-discharge is notably lower than previously reported. This finding implies that direct climatic control was more influential for past ice loss. We redact a total volume for both icefields in 2000 of 5351 km3. Despite the wealth of observations used in this assessment, relative volume uncertainties remain elevated. The Southern Patagonian Icefield likely stores around 10% more ice than previously believed, according to ice thickness estimates based on remote sensing and direct measurement-informed mapping of the sub-glacial topography.
Name
document.pdf
Type
Main Article
Size
8.02 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):d4859f570743d32764e0747c22bda058