Glacier fluctuations and a proglacial evolution in King George Bay (King George Island), Antarctica, since 1980 decade

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 95; no. suppl 3; p. e20230624
• Main Authors: Rosa, Kátia K DA, Perondi, Cleiva, Lorenz, Júlia L, Auger, Jeffrey D, Cazaroto, Pamela, Petsch, Carina, Siqueira, Rafael G, Simões, Jefferson C, Vieira, Rosemary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Ciências 01-01-2023
• Subjects: climate change; Geographical Information System; morainal landforms; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; polar regions; shrinkage environmental change; polar regions; morainal landforms; Geographical Information System; shrinkage environmental change; climate change
• ISSN: 0001-3765; 1678-2690; 1678-2690
• DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320230624

This study aims to investigate the glacier shrinkage and recent proglacial environment in King George Bay, Antarctica, since 1988 in response to climate change. Remote sensing data (SPOT, Sentinel, Landsat and Planet Scope images) were applied to glacial landforms and ice-marginal fluctuations mapping. Annual mean near-surface air temperature reanalysis solutions from ERA-Interim were analyzed. Moraines and glaciofluvial landforms were identified. The Ana Northern Glacier has the highest retreat value (3.64 km) (and area loss of 31%) in response to higher depth in frontal ice-margin and reveal ocean-glacier linkages. The Ana South Glacier changed from a tidewater glacier to land-terminating after 1995, and had an outline minimum elevation variation of 89 meters, a shrinkage of 0.63 km, and a new proglacial subaerial sector. The Ana South Glacier foreland had recessional moraines (probably formed between 1995 and 2022), lagoons, and lakes. There are many flutings in low-relief environments. The 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2009, 2010-2019 anomaly plots concerning to the 1980-2019 average for atmospheric temperature, are shown to be a driver of the local glacial trends.