Atmosphere-ocean driven glacial changes in West Graham Land, Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract

Glaciers that flow into the ocean lose mass at different rates, even under the same climate, because their response depends on local conditions such as bedrock shape, floating ice, and sea ice. Here we analyze two neighboring glaciers on the western Antarctic Peninsula, Rusalka and Hoek, between 1990 and 2025, using satellite observations of grounding line and calving front positions, sea ice, velocity, and surface elevation. Rusalka Glacier retreated and accelerated rapidly after 2017, when warm deep ocean water reached a downward-sloping bed. In contrast, Hoek Glacier remained stable, grounded on an upward-sloping bed and abutting a small floating ice shelf. At Hoek, summers with more sea ice coincided with less forward movement of the glacier front, underscoring the stabilizing effect of sea ice. Our results highlight how ocean heat, bed topography, and sea ice interact to control glacier change and Antarctic ice loss.