Long-Term Monitoring and Change Analysis of Pine Island Ice Shelf Based on Multi-Source Satellite Observations during 1973-2020

Pine Island Glacier (PIG) is one of the largest contributors to sea level rise in Antarctica. Continuous thinning and frequent calving imply significant destabilization of Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf (PIGIS). To understand the mechanism of its accelerated disintegration and its future development, we conducted a long-term monitoring and comprehensive analysis of PIGIS, including ice flow velocity, ice shelf fronts, ocean water temperature, rifts, and surface strain rates, based on multi-source satellite observations during 1973-2020. The results reveal that: (1) ice flow velocities of PIGIS increased from 2.3 km/yr in 1973 to 4.5 km/yr in 2020, with two rapid acceleration periods of 1995-2009 and 2017-2020, and its change was highly correlated to the ocean water temperature variation. (2) At least 13 calving events occurred during 1973-2020, with four unprecedented successive retreats in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020. (3) The acceleration of ice shelf rifting and calving may correlate to the destruction of shear margins, while this damage was likely a response to the warming of bottom seawater. The weakening southern shear margin may continue to recede, indicating that the instability of PIGIS will continue.

Automated summary

Long-term monitoring and comprehensive analysis of Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf (PIGIS) reveal that the ice flow velocities have increased over time, with frequent calving events. These changes are highly correlated to variations in ocean water temperature. The destruction of shear margins and warming of bottom seawater are likely contributing factors to the accelerated disintegration of PIGIS. The instability of PIGIS is expected to persist.