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Change and variability in Antarctic coastal exposure, 1979-2020

Citation

Reid, PA and Massom, RA, Change and variability in Antarctic coastal exposure, 1979-2020, Nature Communications, 13, (1) Article 1164. ISSN 2041-1723 (2022) [Refereed Article]


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DOI: doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28676-z

Abstract

Increased exposure of Antarctica’s coastal environment to open ocean and waves due to loss of a protective sea-ice "buffer" has important ramifications for ice-shelf stability, coastal erosion, important ice-ocean-atmosphere interactions and shallow benthic ecosystems. Here, we introduce a climate and environmental metric based on the ongoing long-term satellite sea-ice concentration record, namely Coastal Exposure Length. This is a daily measure of change and variability in the length and incidence of Antarctic coastline lacking any protective sea-ice buffer offshore. For 1979–2020, ~50% of Antarctica’s ~17,850-km coastline had no sea ice offshore each summer, with minimal exposure in winter. Regional summer/maximum contributions vary from 45% (Amundsen-Bellingshausen seas) to 58% (Indian Ocean and Ross Sea), with circumpolar annual exposure ranging from 38% (2019) to 63% (1993). The annual maximum length of Antarctic coastal exposure decreased by ~30 km (~0.32%) per year for 1979–2020, composed of distinct regional and seasonal contributions.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Keywords:Antarctica, sea-ice
Research Division:Environmental Sciences
Research Group:Other environmental sciences
Research Field:Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:Environmental Management
Objective Group:Other environmental management
Objective Field:Other environmental management not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:Reid, PA (Dr Phillip Reid)
UTAS Author:Massom, RA (Dr Robert Massom)
ID Code:154018
Year Published:2022
Web of Science® Times Cited:2
Deposited By:Australian Antarctic Program Partnership
Deposited On:2022-10-24
Last Modified:2022-11-28
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