Exploring the Dynamics of Antarctic ICE Streams and ICE Shelves Using Cosmo-Skymed

We use repeat geodetic imaging of two major ice stream systems in Antarctica (Rutford and Evans Ice Streams) to explore the impact of large ocean tides under the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf on the dynamics of the ice shelf/ice stream system. We rely on dense time series of radar image acquisitions from multiple vantage points to construct the full 3D surface displacement time history over time scales of months to years. Our observations come from the COSMO-SkyMed constellation. For Evans Ice Stream, we also use observations from Sentinel lab. These time series allow us to evaluate rheological models of ice stream margins and to identify regions of ephemeral sub-shelf grounding. Understanding the sensitivity of such ephemeral pinning points to future thinning of the ice shelf can play an important role in forecasts of the rate of sea level rise over coming decades.