Underwater acoustic fields at Antarctic Peninsula tidewater glaciers caused by frontal ablation processes

Glaciers along the Antarctic Peninsula are retreating at an accelerating rate, largely due to ocean-driven melting linked to rising marine water temperatures. Ice loss at tidewater glaciers occurs primarily through calving and submarine melting. Calving produces sharp, loud acoustic events as ice crashes into the sea, while submarine melting releases bubbles trapped in the ice, creating a continuous sound signal, especially in the 1–3 kHz range. Passive acoustic monitoring offers a promising tool for long-term observation and potential quantification of these processes, which differ in both timing and sound characteristics. In 2024, we deployed a 22-m-deep vertical hydrophone array in several tidewater glacier bays along the Antarctic Peninsula to investigate these signals. The recordings captured distinct temporal and spectral features, as well as vertical coherence and directional properties of the sounds produced by calving and melting. Variability in glacial ice structure and the thermohaline properties of the surrounding water also influenced the acoustic environment across different sites. These findings contribute to a foundational understanding of how underwater sound can be used to monitor glacier dynamics and establish a baseline for future acoustic studies in this sensitive and rapidly changing polar region.