Pathways and Impact of Southern Ocean currents on Antarctic Ice Sheet melting in response to global warming

Results are presented from high resolution ocean model simulations using ROMS encompassing the whole of Antarctica taking into account ocean ice shelf interaction. Simulations are run under present day climate conditions and are then compared with simulations forced with the projected atmospheric state as predicted by the IPCC emission scenario A2. Model results and diagnosed analyses of gravity and height changes of the Antarctic Ice Sheet are discussed and compared to observational data such as GRACE. The model's capability to adequately represent the Southern Ocean mean state will be discussed.