<p>The Antarctic Slope Front and the associated Antarctic Slope Current shield the continental shelves in East Antarctica from offshore warm water that holds the potential for considerable ice shelf melting and, consequently, sea level rise. Here, we present two-year-long records of temperature, salinity, and velocity (2019-2020), obtained from two oceanographic moorings located within the slope front/current over bathymetries of around 1000m and 2000m slightly east of the prime meridian. The two-year data record reveals clear differences in the seasonality of the thermocline depth and the baroclinicity of the current between the deep and shallow mooring locations. In combination with climatologies of hydrography and satellite-derived surface geostrophic currents, we use the new data to refine the baroclinic seasonality of the ASF. The results highlight the role of surface buoyancy fluxes via seasonal sea ice melt and freeze. Finally, the slope current is shown to control flow into and out of the cavity of the close-by Fimbulisen Ice Shelf on seasonal time scales depending on the orientation of the entrances of the cavity. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the processes controlling the slope front/current seasonality and resulting inflow into the East-Antarctic ice shelf cavities.</p>

Understanding the response of ocean-driven melting of the Antarctic ice shelves to a changing climate is one of the greatest challenges for projecting future sea level rise. Under-ice shelf observations are rare around Antarctica, and most hypotheses that link changes in ice shelf basal melting to the large-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation are based on model simulations. Here, we address this knowledge gap by analyzing nine years of continuous oceanographic records from below Fimbulisen, East Antarctica. On monthly time scales, warm inflow events are associated with wind-driven upwelling in front of the ice shelf. Since 2016, however, we observe a more sustained warm inflow that coincides with an enhanced cavity circulation and anomalously high basal melt. Our analysis suggests that these changes are linked to a reduction in coastal sea ice cover and a strengthening and southward shift of the circumpolar westerlies. The former modulates the momentum transfer from the atmosphere, while the latter leads to a weakening of the Antarctic Slope Current, bringing warm water closer to the continental shelf break. Our findings show how large-scale atmospheric and oceanic forcing can increase ice shelf mass loss and lead to increased sea level rise in the future.

Abstract. Environmental and climate science communication often results in the production of appealing but, at times, inaccurate statements, i.e. "bold statements". Such statements are common in the media, however, in-cases, are used by scientists alike. We discuss the concept of such statements seeking to identify their origin and purpose, as well as the benefits and threats of such communication methods. By bringing bold statements in context to the paradigm of climate science communication we argue that their use is enforced by the urgent nature of climate change and that bold statements have been proven useful in raising public awareness and mobilizing the public toward positive climate action, as well as in accelerating law-/policy-making processes that follow scientific conclusions. On the other hand, we demonstrate three example cases of bold narratives in climate and environmental science communication, i.e. 1) An upcoming cooling of Europe due to the gulf stream collapsing, 2) a new island made out of garbage in the Pacific Ocean, and 3) an upcoming "apocalypse'' due to bee extinction. Through those cases, we bring up concerns that using bold statements and sacrificing scientific accuracy in the shrine of public mobilization may backfire, as the use of bold statements encompasses risks by spreading misinformation, and can lead the public to confusion and inappropriate action.