Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical data
Fragmentation is a key process in Antarctic iceberg decay, influencing the Antarctic climate and ecosystems. However, iceberg fragmentation has not been quantified at the pan-Antarctic scale. Using Sentinel-1 data from August to October 2019, we identified 407 fragmentation events in the circum-Anta...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Digital Earth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2511289 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849224375617716224 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhenfu Guan Yan Liu Xiao Cheng Teng Li Mohammed Shokr Xuying Liu Shaoyin Wang Lei Zheng Zilong Chen |
| author_facet | Zhenfu Guan Yan Liu Xiao Cheng Teng Li Mohammed Shokr Xuying Liu Shaoyin Wang Lei Zheng Zilong Chen |
| author_sort | Zhenfu Guan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fragmentation is a key process in Antarctic iceberg decay, influencing the Antarctic climate and ecosystems. However, iceberg fragmentation has not been quantified at the pan-Antarctic scale. Using Sentinel-1 data from August to October 2019, we identified 407 fragmentation events in the circum-Antarctic near-coastal zone, with original iceberg sizes ranging from 0.01 km² to 5591.34 km². The Indian Ocean sector had the greatest number of fragmented events, 97% of which involved icebergs less than 1 km², whereas the Bellingshausen–Amundsen Sea sector has experienced the highest number of fragmentation events involving medium to large icebergs. Smaller icebergs (less than 1 km²) were more susceptible to disintegration through highly fractured capsizing, whereas larger icebergs underwent disarticulation. Fragmentation events were less frequent in landfast ice or mélange (∼0.5% monthly), whereas icebergs exceeding 10 km² exhibited a notable increase in the ratio of fragmentation events to the total number of icebergs (more than 15% monthly) when they were in motion and rotating in pack ice. Our findings indicate that during winter and under extensive sea ice cover, internal ocean waves, ocean currents and collisions are key factors influencing iceberg fragmentation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e7333c8e26f4e4b93c185fe45093e14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1753-8947 1753-8955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Digital Earth |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e7333c8e26f4e4b93c185fe45093e142025-08-25T11:24:36ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Digital Earth1753-89471753-89552025-08-0118110.1080/17538947.2025.2511289Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical dataZhenfu Guan0Yan Liu1Xiao Cheng2Teng Li3Mohammed Shokr4Xuying Liu5Shaoyin Wang6Lei Zheng7Zilong Chen8School of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of ChinaScience and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaInstitute of Artificial Intelligence, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-sen University, and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of ChinaFragmentation is a key process in Antarctic iceberg decay, influencing the Antarctic climate and ecosystems. However, iceberg fragmentation has not been quantified at the pan-Antarctic scale. Using Sentinel-1 data from August to October 2019, we identified 407 fragmentation events in the circum-Antarctic near-coastal zone, with original iceberg sizes ranging from 0.01 km² to 5591.34 km². The Indian Ocean sector had the greatest number of fragmented events, 97% of which involved icebergs less than 1 km², whereas the Bellingshausen–Amundsen Sea sector has experienced the highest number of fragmentation events involving medium to large icebergs. Smaller icebergs (less than 1 km²) were more susceptible to disintegration through highly fractured capsizing, whereas larger icebergs underwent disarticulation. Fragmentation events were less frequent in landfast ice or mélange (∼0.5% monthly), whereas icebergs exceeding 10 km² exhibited a notable increase in the ratio of fragmentation events to the total number of icebergs (more than 15% monthly) when they were in motion and rotating in pack ice. Our findings indicate that during winter and under extensive sea ice cover, internal ocean waves, ocean currents and collisions are key factors influencing iceberg fragmentation.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2511289Antarctica icebergsiceberg fragmentationsea iceSouthern Ocean |
| spellingShingle | Zhenfu Guan Yan Liu Xiao Cheng Teng Li Mohammed Shokr Xuying Liu Shaoyin Wang Lei Zheng Zilong Chen Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical data International Journal of Digital Earth Antarctica icebergs iceberg fragmentation sea ice Southern Ocean |
| title | Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical data |
| title_full | Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical data |
| title_fullStr | Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical data |
| title_short | Fragmentation patterns of Antarctic icebergs in sea ice: observations and statistical data |
| title_sort | fragmentation patterns of antarctic icebergs in sea ice observations and statistical data |
| topic | Antarctica icebergs iceberg fragmentation sea ice Southern Ocean |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2511289 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhenfuguan fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT yanliu fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT xiaocheng fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT tengli fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT mohammedshokr fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT xuyingliu fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT shaoyinwang fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT leizheng fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata AT zilongchen fragmentationpatternsofantarcticicebergsinseaiceobservationsandstatisticaldata |