Earth Sciences

Seafloor Roughness Reduces Melting of East Antarctic Ice Shelves

Y. Liu, M. Nikurashin, et al.

Ocean heat is accelerating the melting of Antarctic ice shelves, primarily fueled by warm Circumpolar Deep Water reaching ice shelf cavities. This study by Yuhang Liu, Maxim Nikurashin, and Beatriz Peña-Molino reveals that unresolved seafloor roughness plays a crucial role in slowing shelf circulation, thereby curbing meltwater discharge and hinting at a vital missing mechanism in global climate models.