McMurdo Sound Fast-Ice changes under a Localized Summer Warming Climate

Abstract: McMurdo Sound embodies a significant ecological fast-ice that sees a recurrent imperative cycle. Although various types of ice do exist, i.e., pack-ice, ice shelf, ice sheet, or glaciers, fast-ice formation and break-up is postulated as more undeviating representation linked to climate trends. A previous climatology study concluded shifts of extensiveness fast-ice advancement pertaining to fast-ice minimum extent^[1]. Utilizing LandSat data as basis of spatial fast-ice measurements, this study examines the fast ice edge and its changes in the past 8 years and the potential factors controlling such changes. Limited climate data from the McMurdo Base Camp station and from the Marble Point station, including temperature, wind direction, and wind speed, are used. Notable wind speeds changed from McMurdo Base Camp at monthly tier, relates well with temperatures at the Marble Point camp, influencing a faster rate of break-up of the fast ice. Notable biannual patterns are found, including temperature and fast-ice break-up temporal rate trends. While this short period, eight-year study, can not statistically conclude fast-ice trends, it tolerably correlates to surface climate patterns proximal to two opposite situated stations. This can add to or justifies continuation to monitor fast-ice destruction trends and surface climatology that may show a connection to worldwide climate patterns. ^(1.) Kim, S., et al., Local climatology of fast ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 2018. 30(2): p. 125-142.