Changing atmospheric conditions may contribute to stronger ocean waves in Antarctica – Phys.org
Article Synopsis – A new study is providing important details on the extent of sea ice, which can protect ice shelves from the impacts of ocean storms, in the Antarctic Peninsula. Scientists have long thought that a shift in the Southern Annular Mode, which describes a large-scale pattern of atmospheric variability for the Southern Hemisphere similar to El Nino in the tropics, may produce conditions that can lead to the collapse of ice shelves. The researchers studied long-term variations in seismic signals, called microseisms, generated by ocean waves in the region. They were able to show that storm and ocean wave activity in the Drake Passage, the ocean basin between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America, increases during positive phases of the Southern Annular Mode and may contribute to ice shelf weakening and potential collapse events. To read the actual article click here.