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Detailed seismic bathymetry beneath Ekström Ice Shelf, Antarctica: Implications for glacial history and ice-ocean interaction
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  • Emma C. Smith,
  • Tore Hattermann,
  • Gerhard Kuhn,
  • Christoph Gaedicke,
  • Sophie Berger,
  • Reinhard Drews,
  • Todd A. Ehlers,
  • Dieter Franke,
  • Raphael Gromig,
  • Coen Hofstede,
  • Astrid Lambrecht,
  • Andreas Läufer,
  • Christoph Mayer,
  • Ralf Tiedemann,
  • Frank Wilhelms,
  • Olaf Eisen
Emma C. Smith
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Tore Hattermann
Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway
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Gerhard Kuhn
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Christoph Gaedicke
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
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Sophie Berger
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Reinhard Drews
Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen
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Todd A. Ehlers
Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen
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Dieter Franke
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
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Raphael Gromig
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Coen Hofstede
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Astrid Lambrecht
Bavarian Academy for Science and Humanities, Bavarian Academy for Science and Humanities, Bavarian Academy for Science and Humanities
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Andreas Läufer
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
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Christoph Mayer
Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities
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Ralf Tiedemann
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Frank Wilhelms
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Olaf Eisen
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
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Abstract

The shape of ice-shelf cavities are a major source of uncertainty in understanding ice-ocean interactions. This limits assessments of the response of the Antarctic ice sheets to climate change. Here we use vibroseis seismic reflection surveys to map the bathymetry beneath the Ekström Ice Shelf, Dronning Maud Land. The new bathymetry reveals an inland-sloping trough, reaching depths of 1100 m below sea level, near the current grounding line, which we attribute to erosion by palaeo-ice streams. The trough does not cross-cut the outer parts of the continental shelf. Conductivity-temperature-depth profiles within the ice-shelf cavity reveal the presence of cold water at shallower depths and tidal mixing at the ice-shelf margins. It is unknown if warm water can access the trough. The new bathymetry is thought to be representative of many ice shelves in Dronning Maud Land, which together regulate the ice loss from a substantial area of East Antarctica.
28 May 2020Published in Geophysical Research Letters volume 47 issue 10. 10.1029/2019GL086187