Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-927
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-927
07 Apr 2026
 | 07 Apr 2026

Transition to a much warmer climate for the global ocean and Antarctic Ice Sheet coupled system, and its reversibility

Pierre Mathiot, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Benoit Urruty, Fabien Gillet-Chaulet, Olivier Gagliardini, and Gaël Durand

Abstract. In Antarctica, two plausible tipping points have been suggested: an ocean tipping point involving a cold-to-warm transition of ice shelf cavities, and an ice sheet tipping point associated with the marine ice sheet instability. This study explores the existence of such tipping points at the scale of Antarctica, using a coupled ocean–ice-sheet model. We first apply and then remove an abrupt perturbation to the ocean, instantaneously switching the atmospheric forcing to high-end 23rd century conditions, which shifts all ice shelf cavities of Antarctica to warm conditions. Our findings reveal that Antarctic continental shelf waters rapidly warm, leading to a regime shift with increased ice shelf melt rates, significant ice shelf thinning, and retreat of ice sheet grounding lines. The ocean conditions reverse over a few years when the atmospheric perturbation ceases, while the ice sheet’s response is much slower. Some regions of East Antarctica show signs of ice sheet reversibility over several centuries. In contrast, we identify 14 ice streams, primarily in the Ross, Amundsen, Filchner, Ronne, and Dronning Maud Land basins, that still undergo irreversible retreat several centuries after the removal of the perturbation.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of The Cryosphere.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Nov 2026
Transition to a much warmer climate for the global ocean and Antarctic Ice Sheet coupled system, and its reversibility
Pierre Mathiot, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Benoit Urruty, Fabien Gillet-Chaulet, Olivier Gagliardini, and Gael Durand
The Cryosphere, 20, 6241–6262, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-6241-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-6241-2026, 2026
Short summary
Pierre Mathiot, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Benoit Urruty, Fabien Gillet-Chaulet, Olivier Gagliardini, and Gaël Durand

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2026-927', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 May 2026
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Pierre Mathiot, 19 Jun 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2026-927', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 May 2026
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Pierre Mathiot, 19 Jun 2026

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Submit a revised manuscript (19 Jun 2026) by Felicity McCormack
AR by Pierre Mathiot on behalf of the Authors (08 Jul 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (15 Jul 2026) by Felicity McCormack
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (31 Jul 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (02 Aug 2026)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (03 Aug 2026) by Felicity McCormack
AR by Pierre Mathiot on behalf of the Authors (28 Aug 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (11 Sep 2026) by Felicity McCormack
AR by Pierre Mathiot on behalf of the Authors (24 Sep 2026)  Manuscript 

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2026-927', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 May 2026
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Pierre Mathiot, 19 Jun 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2026-927', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 May 2026
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Pierre Mathiot, 19 Jun 2026

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Submit a revised manuscript (19 Jun 2026) by Felicity McCormack
AR by Pierre Mathiot on behalf of the Authors (08 Jul 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (15 Jul 2026) by Felicity McCormack
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (31 Jul 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (02 Aug 2026)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (03 Aug 2026) by Felicity McCormack
AR by Pierre Mathiot on behalf of the Authors (28 Aug 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (11 Sep 2026) by Felicity McCormack
AR by Pierre Mathiot on behalf of the Authors (24 Sep 2026)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

02 Nov 2026
Transition to a much warmer climate for the global ocean and Antarctic Ice Sheet coupled system, and its reversibility
Pierre Mathiot, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Benoit Urruty, Fabien Gillet-Chaulet, Olivier Gagliardini, and Gael Durand
The Cryosphere, 20, 6241–6262, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-6241-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-6241-2026, 2026
Short summary
Pierre Mathiot, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Benoit Urruty, Fabien Gillet-Chaulet, Olivier Gagliardini, and Gaël Durand
Pierre Mathiot, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Benoit Urruty, Fabien Gillet-Chaulet, Olivier Gagliardini, and Gaël Durand

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
How the Antarctic ice sheet responds to rapid ocean warming remains uncertain. To explore this, we used a coupled ocean–ice sheet model. We compared simulations under present-day conditions with simulations under strong future warming for 50 years, then returned to today’s climate. The ocean warmed quickly but recovered within decades. In contrast, several ice streams continued to retreat for centuries. This shows that even brief warming could cause lasting ice loss and sea-level rise.
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