Mixing and Transformation of Water Masses Adjacent to Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctica

Water mass mixing and transformation in the area adjacent to Larsen C Ice Shelf (LCIS) are investigated using hydrographic data collected during the 2019 Weddell Sea Expedition. Despite the historic collapse of Larsen A and B and the recent massive calving of iceberg A-68 from LCIS, the role of the ocean in destabilizing the ice shelves in this region remains poorly understood. As a first step towards addressing this gap in our understanding, we explore the oceanic environment surrounding LCIS. Our results show intense mixing between Modified Weddell Deep Water (MWDW) and local shelf waters. Candidate parent sources for ISW are identified in the region, indicating the potential for dense waters to circulate beneath the ice shelf. ISW is observed within Jason Trough, presumably en-route to the Slope Current, thereby linking this region to the global ocean, and hence climate, via its contribution to Bottom Water properties.