Mélange‐Driven Coupling Between the Central Pine Island Ice Shelf and the Piglet Glacier Reverses Recent Acceleration Trends
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: By analyzing velocity changes of the Pine Island Ice Shelf (PIIS) from October 2014 to August 2025 using Sentinel‐1A/B imagery, we find that the PIIS flow changed markedly over this period. A distinct slowdown occurred at the central PIIS from 14 March 2022 to 20 January 2023, during which velocities decreased from 13.15 ± 0.04 to 12.71 ± 0.17 m day −1 (−0.44 ± 0.18 m day −1 yr −1 ). Piglet Glacier, a major tributary of the PIIS, also experienced two deceleration periods between 2023 and 2025. The transitions from acceleration to deceleration and then to near‐steady flow coincided with substantial changes in mélange configuration. Our analysis clearly demonstrates that the flow of the central PIIS and Piglet Glacier is highly sensitive to mechanical coupling along their shear margins. Specifically, the recent slowdowns in the ice flow are most easily explained by variations in the state and configuration of dense ice mélange.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2025gl119556
Authors: Yite Chien, Chunxia Zhou, Bryan Riel
Institutions: Wuhan University, Zhejiang University
Language: English
Subfield: Atmospheric Science
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W7116982725