Newcastle University

The aim is to discover what’s causing the recent rapid ice loss from Pine Island Glacier on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and whether this loss will continue to increase or slow down.  The research is important for understanding the likely impact on future sea-level rise.

Involving 35 scientists from around the world, the project team includes Professor Peter Clarke, Professor of Geophysical Geodesy at Newcastle University.

Dr Andy Smith, of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), said: “We used to think that the volume of water flowing from Antarctica’s melting glaciers and icebergs into the ocean was equal to the amount of water falling as snow onto the ice sheet; and that this process was keeping the whole system in balance.

"But Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) are losing ice at a faster rate than they are being replenished.  This affects sea level all over the world.  The speed of changes to this region has taken scientists by surprise and we need to find out what’s going on.”

Professor Clarke adds: “By carrying out careful measurements of ice elevation and velocity, and changes in the shape of the solid Earth, we will be able to constrain much more accurately how this rapidly-changing part of Antarctica could be contributing to sea level changes worldwide.”

Starting in November this year the iSTAR science programme will mount four projects focussed on finding out what’s causing the rapid changes observed in the Amundsen Sea region of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Using state-of-the-art technologies, science teams will measure changes to the flow and thickness of glaciers and investigate the role that the ocean plays in transporting warm water beneath ice shelves.

The research will include the use of radar and seismic  technologies to map the glacier bed, satellite remote sensing to measure areas of the glacier that are inaccessible from the ground and a fleet of ocean robots known as seagliders to measure temperature, saltiness and water depth.

The team are also enlisting the help of 15 seals who will have tiny sensors glued to their fur.  These will also capture information such as the temperature and the saltiness and will provide biologists with a better indication of how vulnerable seals might be to climate change. The sensors fall off when the seals moult their fur.

Full details may be found in the press release.