Surface velocity estimations of ice shelves in the northern Antarctic Peninsula derived from MODIS data

The ice shelves in the northern Antarctic Peninsula are highly sensitive to variations of temperature and have therefore served as indicators of global warming. In this study, we estimate the velocities of the ice shelves in the northern Antarctic Peninsula using co-registration of optically sensed images and correlation module (COSI-Corr) in the Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI) based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images during 2000-2012, from which we conclude that the ice ?ow directions generally match the peninsulas pattern and the crevasse, ice flows mainly eastward into the Weddell Sea. The spatial pattern of velocity field exhibits an increasing trend from the western grounding line to the maximum at the middle part of the ice shelf front on Larsen C with a velocity of approximately 700 ma^-1, and the velocity field shows relatively higher values in its southerly neighboring ice shelf (e.g. Smith Inlet). Additionally, ice ?ows are relatively quicker in the outer part of the ice shelf than in the inner parts. Temporal changes in surface velocities show a continuous increase from 2000 to 2012. It is worth noting that, the acceleration rate during 2000-2009 is relatively higher than that during 2009-2012, while the ice movement on the southern Larsen C and Smith Inlet shows a deceleration from 2009 to 2012.     

南极冰架研究现状与埃默里冰架研究展望

南极冰架是揭示南极地区气候变化机制,预测全球气候变化的关键研究区域之一。概述了20世纪以来针对南极冰架所开展的科学研究工作,分别从冰架物质平衡过程、冰架形态特征及其内部结构监测、冰架海底海洋岩芯的沉积特征和冰架附近海域生态系统演化等方面总结了冰架研究所取得的丰硕成果。介绍了中国近几年在东南极洲埃默里冰架进行的科学考察活动,并依据南极冰架研究的国际未来计划提出了中国在埃默里冰架即将继续开展的研究工作。     

南极海冰、冰穴和冰川冰及其对水团形成和变性的作用

本文利用前人的成果及笔者1992/1993年的南极海冰观测和收集的资料以及水文观测资料数据阐述了南极海冰的特性,特别是南极海冰过程、冰穴以及冰川冰对南极水团(南极表层水、南极底层水、南极陆架水、南极中层水以及南极冰架水)的形成和变性所起的特殊作用。 南极海冰覆盖面积的年际变化,夏季最大年份是最小年份的2倍多,冬季年间变化较小,最大仅为20％;但其季节变化非常大,冬季平均覆盖面积通常是夏季的5倍。南极海冰对大气-海洋间相互作用有重大影响,特别是深海洋区中冬季的结冰和发育造成的垂向对流、夏季的融化是形成南极表层水(含南极冬季水和南极夏季表层水),进而形成南极中层水的主要原因;南极陆架区的的海冰兴衰过程是形成南极陆架水的直接原因,它与变性南极绕极深层水混合并受到冰川冰的进一步冷却作用,成为形成南极底层水的主要水团;南极冰架底部的冷却、融化和冰架以下水体的结冰作用形成的高盐对流过程产生的南极冰架水,亦是形成南极底层水的贡献者。 冰穴是70年代以来卫星观测的重大发现。对其形成和对大气、海洋的影响作用尚不完全清楚,初步的研究成果表明,冰穴中产生的热盐对流对南极水团的形成、变性、大洋深层的翻转以及海洋-大气间的热量传输和气体交换起有非常重要的作用。     

Physical oceanography studies in the Weddell Sea during the Norwegian Antarctic Research Expedition 1978/79

Hydrographic and current measurements obtained during the Norwegian Antarctic Research Expedition 1978/79 to the southern Weddell Sea are presented. Cold, dense Ice Shelf Water circulating under the floating ice shelves is observed to leave the shelf as a concentrated bottom flow. From moored current metres this discharge is estimated at 0.7 10⁶ m³/s at -2.0°C (one year average) and with no appreciable seasonal variation. This contribution to the Weddell Sea Bottom Water is clearly identified through extreme temperature gradients at our deepest stations (below 2500 m). The core of Weddell Deep Water shows a considerable (T ∼ 0.5°C) warming up since 1977, presumably due to the lack of polynya activity in the intervening period. Measurements in the coastal current at the ice shelf (70°S, 2°W) show step structures which are probably due to cooling and melting at the vertical ice barrier. Slight supercooling due to circulation under the ice shelf is also seen. The net effect of the ice shelf boundary seems to be a deep reaching cooling and freshening of the coastal current providing the low salinity, freezing point Eastern Shelf Water. This process is considered a preconditioning which enhances production of the saline Western Shelf Water which in turn is transformed to Ice Shelf Water.     

Spatial Sciences on Ice: 50 years of Australian activities on the Amery Ice Shelf,East Antarctica

The Antarctic climate system involves many complex interactions between the atmosphere, oceans and ice and is sensitive to variations in these components. Ice shelves represent the ice–ocean–atmosphere interface of the Antarctic continent and are therefore very important indicators of climate change in the region. The Amery Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf in East Antarctica and has been the focus of many scientific research projects over the past 50 years. This paper presents a history of the use of spatial science techniques from basic survey equipment to satellite systems in Australian research projects based on the Amery Ice Shelf (and surrounding glaciers) since 1955. The application of these spatial data to projects based primarily in the fields of geodesy, glaciology, climatology, and oceanography has allowed the measurement and monitoring of the physical, dynamic and environmental characteristics of this large and remote region. This new information provides scientists with a better understanding of the ice shelf/ocean/atmosphere system allowing future monitoring to observe the effects of global climate change.     

Limnology of Two Antarctic Epishelf Lakes and their Potential to Record Periods of Ice Shelf Loss

George VI Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and its northern margin marks the southern most latitudinal limit of recent ice shelf retreat. As part of a project to reconstruct the long-term (Holocene) history of George VI Ice Shelf we studied two epishelf lakes impounded by the ice shelf at Ablation Point, on the east coast of Alexander Island. These lakes, Moutonnée and Ablation, are stratified water bodies with a lower marine layer and an upper freshwater layer. To determine if their sediment records could be used to detect past changes in the presence or absence of the ice shelf it was necessary to describe their present-day limnology and sedimentology. We measured water column chemistry and sampled the water column and sediments of the lakes along vertical and horizontal transects. We analysed these samples for diatoms, stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, δ¹³C_DIC, δ¹³C_org), geochemistry (TOC, TN, C/N ratios) and physical sedimentology (grain-size). This was supplemented by chemical and biological reference data from the catchments. Results showed that the water columns of both lakes are nutrient limited and deficient in phytoplankton. Benthic productivity is low and decreases with depth. Comparison of water column chemistry with an earlier survey shows a net increase in the thickness of the freshwater layer in Moutonnée Lake between 1973 and 2001, which could indicate that George VI Ice Shelf has thinned during this period. However, a similar trend was not observed in Ablation Lake (5 km to the north) and an alternative explanation is that the changes are a seasonal phenomena. Data from the surface sediment transects identified a number of proxies that respond to the present day stratification of the water column including diatom species composition, stable isotopes and geochemistry, particularly in Moutonnée Lake. Collectively these data have been used to develop a conceptual model for determining past ice shelf configuration in epishelf lakes. Specifically, periods of past ice shelf loss, and the removal of the ice dam, would see the present stratified epishelf lake replaced by a marine embayment. It is suggested that this change would leave a clear signature in the lake sediment record, notably the deposition of an exclusively marine biological assemblage, increased ice rafted debris and δ¹³C_org values that are indicative of marine derived organic matter. These authors contributed equally to this work     

南极菲尔德斯半岛两侧南极帽贝种群结构比较分析

本文对南极乔治王岛菲尔德斯半岛东、西海岸的帽贝种群的个体分布特征进行了研究,样品于2003年2月南半球夏季在菲尔德斯半岛东面的长城湾长城站一侧和企鹅岛西侧潮间带以及半岛西岸地理湾潮间带采集。在上述三个站点作断面随机取样,分别统计了南极帽贝(Na-cella concinna Strebel,1908)密度和个体大小。结果表明,除了半岛两侧帽贝种群密度不同外,半岛东、西两侧帽贝个体大小也存在较大的差异,西海岸地理湾帽贝壳长明显较大,大于企鹅岛帽贝平均壳长1cm以上,其他生长指标也大于东海岸的帽贝。西海岸帽贝个体的腹足面积和壳高的回归直线的斜率均大于东海岸帽贝的对应值。东、西海岸帽贝的腹足与帽贝的壳高存在异速生长状况(allometry),西海岸帽贝异速生长差异高于东海岸的帽贝。分析结果进一步证明,当地低密度帽贝种群与西海岸比较恶劣的自然环境有关,环境差异导致西岸产生大个体帽贝。菲尔德斯东、西海岸环境因子,如风浪、冰块冲击作用以至生物捕食产生的环境压力,不仅作用于种群个体的生长状态,而且也作用于种群结构。     

Hydrological character and sea-current structure in the front of Amery Ice Shelf

<正> Hydrological character and Sea-current profiles structure are studied andanalyzed in sea-area of the front of Amery Ice Shelf,Prydz Bay with LADCP,CTDdata.These LADCP,CTD data were acquired during the 19th Chinese Antarctic Sci-entific Expedition.Results of this study agree with that,there exist four differentkinds of water masses in the area of the front of Amery Ice Shelf in the summer of Ant-arctica.Current distribution presents a semi-circumfluence which flows in at the eastand flows out in the west.Moreover,clockwise and anti-clockwise vortices werefound in upper layer and mid-layer in the Prydz Bay.Western areas of these anti-clockwise vortices are positions of inflows from Prydz Bay to Amery Ice Shelf.Thesource of these inflows is the coastal westward current originated in the east of PrydzBay.All these characteristics come down to the pattern of circumfluence,ice meltrate under Ice Shelf,scale of Ice Shelf water production and form of water exchangesbetween area of Ice Shelf and area of Prydz Bay.     

南极冰架-海洋相互作用研究综述

本文介绍了近期南极冰架-海洋相互作用的研究进展。冰架底部融化速率大于前缘崩解通量,成为南极冰盖质量损失的首要途径。冰架下的海洋按照底部融化驱动因素的不同,可以分为由高密度陆架水驱动的冷冰腔和由变性绕极深层水驱动的暖冰腔。威德尔海的菲尔希纳-龙尼冰架和罗斯海的罗斯冰架属于冷冰腔,占南极冰架总面积的2/3,却只贡献了15%的净融化;东南太平洋扇区阿蒙森海和别林斯高晋海等若干属于暖冰腔的小型冰架,虽然只占南极冰架总面积的8%,却贡献了超过一半的冰架融水。以往看做冷冰腔的东南极托滕冰架和埃默里冰架,也相继发现有变性绕极深层水进入冰腔并造成底部融化。冰架对海洋有冷却和淡化的作用。冷冰腔输出的冰架水具有海洋中最低的温度,对南极陆架水性质乃至南极底层水的形成都有影响。冰架融化加剧,可能是近期观测到的南极底层水淡化的原因。     

The tidal signals extraction from GPS data on the Amery Ice Shelf, Antarctica

Tidal motion is the source of short-term vertical motion that an ice shelf experiences, and hence has a significant impact on ice shelves. During the 2003/2004 Austral summer season, five days of GPS measurements were carried out on the front of the Amery Ice Shelf （AIS）, East Antarctica, by the 20th Chinese National Antarctica Research Expedition （CHINARE）. The GPS data was processed using GAMIT/GLOBK software with 2-hour static data segment and the vertical precision is less than 0.18 m. To verify our results for the vertical component, we compare the ice shelf GPS tidal signal with a tidal result derived from tide gauge measurements at China＇s Zhongshan Station on Antarctica. Comparison of the GPS results with the tide gauge were in good agreement in amplitude at the few cm level, which indicates that the tide under the front of Amery Ice Shelf is irregular semidiurnal tide, the maximal tidal differences is approximately 2 m. GPS data can be used to validate the ocean tide model around the Antarctic area and such studies are important to improve our knowledge of the Antarctic ice shelf mass balance and dynamical models of ice sheet/ocean interaction.     

南极潮汐测量及区域潮汐对冰架表面流速影响的研究进展综述

南极区域潮汐是计算南极物质平衡和南极冰架表面冰流速的重要影响因素,同时对于研究冰架崩解和全球气候变暖具有重要作用。南极潮汐测量的方法从最初的实时测量,发展到了卫星测高和遥感监测以及建立数值模型预测的阶段。已有研究表明潮汐周期与冰架表面流速间存在一定关联,例如Filchner-Ronne冰架和Ross冰架的潮汐变化与冰流速度的联系为:在大潮时冰流速度达到最快,小潮时冰流速度达到最慢。研究还对南极典型冰架区域潮汐特征及对冰架表面冰流速、高程变化等的影响进行了总结。今后的研究不仅需要继续关注西南极和南极半岛的潮汐变化,更加需要对东南极稀疏的区域进行潮汐观测,这对于构建整个南极潮汐数据库和提高数值模型的精度具有重要意义。     

埃默里冰架前缘水的特性和海流结构

本文利用中国第19次南极科学考察普里兹湾内埃默里冰架前缘水域观测的LADCP、 CTD资料,研究并分析了普里兹湾内埃默里冰架前缘水域水的温、盐特性和海流结构。资料显示,在冰架前缘的水域中存在着四种典型的夏季水团;流速分布显示出东进西出的特征。此外在普里兹湾内的上层和中层海洋中还存在着逆时针和顺时针方向的涡旋:逆时针涡旋西侧是普里兹湾向冰架入流的位置所在;入流的源地是普里兹湾东侧的沿岸西向流。这些特征涉及到夏季普里兹湾内的环流形式、冰架底部的消融速率和冰架水的生成规模以及冰架区域与冰架外普里兹湾内的水交换形式。     

南极冰盖的物质平衡研究:进展与展望

南极冰盖物质平衡最新的研究进展表明,西南极洲表现出两种变化模式,西部在增厚,而北面在更快地减薄。西南极冰盖总体可能正在减薄,其物质损失的速率可能足以使海平面每年上升近0.2mm。东南极冰盖物质不平衡可能很小,甚至其符号还不能被确定。南极半岛正在经历着快速变化。目前还不能可靠地估算南极冰盖的物质平衡状态。同时,大型冰川的停滞,一些冰川流速加快,冰盖大范围加速减薄,冰架大面积的快速崩解和支流冰川的加速,以及着地线强烈的底部融化等显示出南极冰盖存在快速变化。南极冰盖物质平衡未来的重点研究领域是开展冰盖表面高程变化的监测与模拟,确定表面物质平衡及其在各冰流盆地的分布,着地线的冰流通量,冰架底部的融化,了解冰后期冰盖退缩的动力过程,以及开发、对比和改进与冰盖物质平衡模拟和预测相关的各种模型。     

Glacial history of the Antarctic Peninsula since the Last Glacial Maximum–a synthesis

The extent of ice, thickness and dynamics of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice sheets in the Antarctic Peninsula region, as well as the pattern of subsequent deglaciation and climate development, are not well constrained in time and space. During the LGM, ice thickened considerably and expanded towards the middle–outer submarine shelves around the Antarctic Peninsula. Deglaciation was slow, occurring mainly between >14 Ky BP (¹⁴C kilo years before present) and ca. 6 Ky BP, when interglacial climate was established in the region. After a climate optimum, peaking ca. 4 - 3 Ky BP, a cooling trend started, with expanding glaciers and ice shelves. Rapid warming during the past 50 years may be causing instability to some Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves.     

Radiocarbon Chronology of Ross Sea Drift, Eastern Taylor Valley, Antarctica: Evidence for a Grounded Ice Sheet in the Ross Sea at the Last Glacial Maximum

More than 250 radiocarbon dates of lacustrine algae and marine shells afford a chronology for Ross Sea drift in eastern Taylor Valley. Dates of algae that lived in ice-dammed Glacial Lake Washburn show that grounded Ross Sea ice blocked the mouth of Taylor Valley between 8340 and 23,800 ¹⁴C yr bp . Ross Sea ice was at its maximum position at the Hjorth Hill moraine between 12,700 and 14,600 ¹⁴C yr bp and was within 500m distance of this position as late as 10,794 ¹⁴C yr bp . The implication is that the flow line of the Ross Sea ice sheet which extended around northern Ross Island and across McMurdo Sound to Taylor Valley must have remained intact, and hence that a grounded ice sheet must have existed east of Ross Island as late as 8340 ¹⁴C yr bp . Evidence from ice-dammed lakes in Taylor Valley and from shells from McMurdo Sound suggests grounding-line retreat from the vicinity of Ross Island between 6500 and 8340 ¹⁴C yr bp . If this is correct, then most recession to the present-day grounding line on the Siple Coast took place subsequently in the absence of significant deglacial sea-level rise. Rising sea level may have triggered internal mechanisms within the ice sheet that led to retreat, but did not in itself drive continued ice-sheet recession. Ice retreat, once set in motion, continued in the absence of sea-level forcing. If correct, this hypothesis implies that the grounding line could continue to recede into the interior reservoir of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.     

THE ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS ON KING GEORGE ISLAND SINCE THE LAST GLACIATION

The extension of ice sheet on King George Island during the last glaciation was an environment event since the last glaciation. At that time South Shedlands Islands were a large unified island and the ice mass on King George Island might come from the Antarctic Peninsula. The model of ice retreat and ice advance events in the Holocene show that the ice sheet was separated into three small ice caps and then dispeared gradually. At present the retreating velocity of glacier is about 1.3m each year. After the retreat of ice sheet the isostatic compensation appeared in the crust there, and then 5-6 steps of the uplifted marine terraces have been developed along the coast. The uplift rate of the crust may be 6-10mm/a.     

南极普里兹湾及其毗邻南印度洋夏季微小型浮游植物的分布特征

1990年 1 2月～ 1 991年 1月从南极普里兹湾及其毗邻南印度洋获得的微小型浮游植物样品 ,经鉴定、分析表明 :调查海区有 5门 40属 1 2 2种、变种和变型 ,其中硅藻类占 73 .0 %,甲藻类占2 0 .5 %,其它仅占 6 .5 %。表层水样微小型浮游植物平均丰度为 2 5 5 1× 1 0 4个 /m3 ,其密集区主要分布在普里兹湾内邻近陆架区的 7站和西冰架与沙克尔顿冰架之间的以北海域 ( 3、 4、 2、 3、 1站及 1站 ) ;位于普里兹湾西北部海域断面 和 1～ 5站丰度最低。网采浮游植物平均丰度为 81 2× 1 0 4 个 /m3 ,其密集区则分布在普里兹湾邻近陆架区 ( 2、 4、 5、 7、 4、 5站 )和西冰架北部海域 ( 1、 3站 ) ;低丰度位于沙克尔顿冰架东部海域 (断面 、 的测站 )。微小型浮游植物垂直分布密集区位于测区中部 ( 3、 3站 )和东部 ( 3站 ) 0～ 5 0 m水体 ,水深1 0 0 m以下至 2 0 0 m随深度的增加而丰度逐渐减少。微小型浮游植物丰度与大磷虾的丰度和营养盐 (N、P、Si)浓度成显著的负相关。     

Interdecadal oscillations of temperatures in 1903-2002 over the Antarctic Peninula

<正> In the paper,by use of the monthly mean temperature data of 12 sta-tions in the vicinity of Antarctic Peninsula,the temperature series during 1903-2000 is founded and the interdecadal oscillation of the temperature are discussed.The results indicate that 1) There are three jumps during 1919-1923,1947-1953 and 1976-1982 in recent hundred years and the stable climate step betweentwo jump points lasted about 30 years.2)Annual mean temperature is increasedby 0.730℃ in an echelon during 1903-2000,the warming extent is dissimilarityin each season,the maximum of warming is in the winter and the minimum ofwarming is in summer.3)The ice decline trend is presented in the index of Iceconcentration in the vicinity sea of Antarctic Peninsula,which shows a-0.2053/10a drop,and the decrease trend of the ice concentration index in summerhalf year(Dec-May)is found much more obviously than that in winter half year(Jun-Nov).4)There is better negative relationship between the temperature andthe Ice concentration index in Antarctic Peninsula and its vicinity sea,which cor-relation coefficient of is exceed the significance level of 5% in summer,autumnand annual. Antarctic Peninsula,temperature,sea ice,oscillation.     

南极冰盖与冰川的快速变化

近10年的观测研究表明,南极冰盖和冰川存在快速的变化阿蒙森海扇区的主要冰流系统正在迅速变薄,减薄趋势可上溯至内陆150km处;罗斯冰流出现了停滞或明显减速,有的流动方向发生了改变,引发冰流袭夺;南极半岛冰架大面积崩塌,补给冰川加速,冰川出现了跃动;变暖的海水进一步侵蚀了冰架,着地线附近底部冰层融化强烈。上述发现改变了南极冰盖缓慢变化的传统观点,并对今后的冰川动力学研究,冰流模型模拟,冰盖物质平衡研究及预测具有重要意义。     

PISM冰盖模式对Amery冰架流速场模拟的适用性

在全球气候变暖的背景下,冰架系统是监视和预测冰盖稳定性的理想研究区域。然而传统的冰架观测与调查方法只能从某一侧面揭示冰架的运动状态和演化信息,无法预测其未来变化;冰盖模式作为非常有潜力的数值计算方法,成为研究和预测冰盖/冰架演化的热点领域。Lambert冰川-Amery冰架系统是东南极冰盖最大的冰川系统,对于研究东南极冰盖的物质平衡和冰盖稳定性具有重要意义。使用PISM冰盖模式,对该冰川系统的流动过程进行模拟,得到冰表面流速场数据,并将模拟流速场与实测数据进行对比,发现两者在大部分区域吻合较好,但在冰架前缘处呈现出一些差异。进一步讨论差异可能的来源以及模拟可以改进的地方。