Science
Seismic study uncovers hundreds of undetected glacial earthquakes in Antarctica
Researchers analyzing local seismic stations found 362 previously uncataloged events near major ice streams, offering insights into ice shelf instability.
The short version
- A study using Antarctic seismic stations identified 362 previously uncataloged glacial earthquakes between 2010 and 2023.
- The majority of the seismic events occurred near the marine terminus of the Thwaites Glacier, while a second cluster was detected near the Pine Island Glacier.
- The surge in activity at Thwaites from 2018 to 2020 matched satellite data showing accelerated movement of its ice tongue toward the sea.
- Researchers seek to further investigate how ocean conditions drive iceberg calving and ground vibrations near marine-terminating glaciers.
Key facts
- A study published in Geophysical Research Letters uncovered 362 glacial earthquakes in Antarctica from 2010 to 2023 using local seismic stations.[ScienceDaily]
- Out of the 362 detected events, 245 were located near the marine edge of the Thwaites Glacier.[ScienceDaily]
- The peak period for the detected seismic events at Thwaites Glacier occurred between 2018 and 2020, coinciding with satellite-confirmed acceleration of its ice tongue.[ScienceDaily]
- Unlike typical earthquakes, glacial earthquakes lack high-frequency seismic waves, making them difficult to spot on global monitoring networks if their magnitude is low.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- The exact cause of the seismic cluster near the Pine Island Glacier remains unknown, as the events occurred 60 to 80 kilometers inland from the waterfront, making iceberg capsizing unlikely.[ScienceDaily]
- The precise ocean mechanisms driving short-term destabilization and accelerated flow of the Thwaites Glacier ice tongue require further research.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
- Hundreds of hidden earthquakes found at Antarctica’s Doomsday GlacierScienceDaily - Science