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Future global mean sea level (GMSL) change is dependent on the complex response of the Antarctic ice sheet to ongoing changes and feedbacks in the climate system. The Lambert-Amery glacial system has been observed to be stable over the recent period yet is potentially at risk of rapid grounding line retreat and ice discharge given that a significant volume of its ice is grounded below sea level, making its future contribution to GMSL uncertain. Using a regional ice sheet model of the Lambert-Amery system, we find that under a range of future warming and extreme scenarios, the simulated grounding line remains stable and does not trigger rapid mass loss from grounding line retreat. This allows for increased future accumulation to exceed the mass loss from ice dynamical changes. We suggest that the Lambert-Amery glacial system will remain stable or gain ice mass and mitigate a portion of potential future sea level rise over the next 500 years, with a range of +3.6 to −117.5 mm GMSL equivalent.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	ice flow, sea level change, climate change, ice sheet modelling
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Physical geography and environmental geoscience
Research Field:	Glaciology
Objective Division:	Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
Objective Group:	Understanding climate change
Objective Field:	Effects of climate change on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments (excl. social impacts)
UTAS Author:	Pittard, ML (Mr Mark Pittard)
UTAS Author:	Galton-Fenzi, BK (Dr Ben Galton-Fenzi)
UTAS Author:	Watson, CS (Dr Christopher Watson)
UTAS Author:	Roberts, JL (Dr Jason Roberts)
ID Code:	123692
Year Published:	2017
Web of Science® Times Cited:	5
Deposited By:	CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems
Deposited On:	2018-01-18
Last Modified:	2018-05-18
Downloads:	65 View Download Statistics