High Spatial Melt Rate Variability Near the Totten Glacier Grounding Zone Explained by New Bathymetry Inversion

Totten Glacier is a fast-moving East Antarctic outlet with the potential for significant future sea-level contributions. We deployed four autonomous phase-sensitive radars on its ice shelf to monitor ice-ocean interactions near its grounding zone and made active source seismic observations to constrain gravity-derived bathymetry models. We observe an asymmetry in basal melting with mean melt rates along the grounding zone differing by up to 20 m/a. Our new bathymetry model reveals that this melt rate asymmetry coincides with an asymmetry in water column thickness and that the low-melting ice-shelf portion is shielded from the main cavity circulation. A 2-year record yields year-to-year melt rate variability of 7-9 m/a with no seasonal cycle. Our results highlight the key role of bathymetry near grounding lines for accurate modeling of ice-shelf melt, and the importance of sustained multi-year monitoring, especially at ice-shelf cavities where the dominant melt rate drivers vary primarily inter-annually.

Automated summary

We deployed autonomous phase-sensitive radars on Totten Glacier's ice shelf to monitor ice-ocean interactions and made seismic observations to constrain gravity-derived bathymetry models. Our study finds an asymmetry in basal melting and reveals its correlation with water column thickness asymmetry. The importance of bathymetry near grounding lines for accurate ice-shelf melt modeling and the need for sustained multi-year monitoring, especially in ice-shelf cavities with varying dominant melt rate drivers, are highlighted.