Field in the frame: seals as meltwater monitors

Measuring meltwater coming off polar glaciers can help us to understand how climate change is impacting Antarctic ice sheets, but this meltwater is difficult to observe and track over time. Dr Zheng and colleagues solved this problem by using data collected by tagged seals. The seals were equipped with tags that measured temperature, salinity, and pressure, building a picture of Antarctic ice-shelf fronts. The team found that meltwater rises to the sea surface in winter, transporting heat and nutrients effectively upwards. The team found that meltwater rises to the sea surface in winter, transporting heat and nutrients effectively upwards. They suggest that the processes measured by the seals need to be accounted for in climate modelling.