How do ocean waves erode Antarctic icebergs?

Once Antarctic icebergs enter the Southern Ocean, they undergo significant erosion through mechanical and thermal processes driven by ocean waves.1

Because meltwater and percolation weaken the iceberg's firn layer, wave action can penetrate the freeboard portion of the berg. This erosion occurs in several ways:1

• Wave Cutting: Waves create cuts that can penetrate several metres into the iceberg. The resulting loss of support often causes the overlying ice to collapse, forming smaller blocks known as growlers or bergy bits.1
• Turbulence and Heat Transport: Ocean turbulence enhances the transport of heat to the ice, accelerating melting.1
• Feature Exploitation: Turbulence is intensified around existing crevasses and cracks. Waves erode these features into caves, which may eventually collapse when their roofs become unsupported.1

These processes can transform an iceberg into a pinnacled berg or a drydock-like structure. As the iceberg fragments into smaller pieces, its surface-area-to-volume ratio increases, causing it to melt even more rapidly.1