Satellite altimetry detection of ice-shelf-influenced fast ice

Abstract. The outflow of supercooled Ice Shelf Water from the conjoined Ross and McMurdo ice shelf cavity augments fast thickness forms a thick sub-ice platelet layer in Sound. Here, we investigate whether CryoSat-2 satellite radar altimeter can consistently detect higher freeboard caused by thicker combined with buoyant forcing beneath. Freeboards obtained were compared 4 years drill-hole-measured sea freeboard, snow depth, thicknesses Sound November 2011, 2013, 2017 2018. spatial distribution concurred distributions ice-shelf-influenced layer. mean was 0.07–0.09 m over main path outflow, centre sound, relative to west east. In this central region, CryoSat-2-derived 35 % larger than thickness. We attribute overestimate satellite-altimeter-obtained additional which had 3.90 centre. demonstrate capability Water-influenced Further development method could provide tool identify regions elsewhere on Antarctic coastline adequate information