Study in Nature Communications finds meandering ocean currents and ocean floor interactions significantly contribute to West Antarctica's Amundsen Sea ice shelf melting.

A study in Nature Communications reveals that meandering ocean currents and ocean floor interactions significantly contribute to the melting of ice shelves in West Antarctica's Amundsen Sea. These oceanic processes generate upwelling velocity, bringing warm water to shallower depths, which accelerates ice shelf melting. The research challenges prior assumptions linking ice shelf melting primarily to Southern Ocean winds and highlights the threat posed by rapid melting to global coastal communities due to potential sea level rises.

April 11, 2024
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