The study by Rignot et al. (2013) examines the melting rates of Antarctic ice shelves and their contribution to the overall mass balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. By comparing volume flux divergence in 2007-2008 with surface accumulation and thinning data from 1979-2010, the researchers found that basal melting exceeds calving, making it the primary ablation process. The largest melt rates are observed in the Southeast Pacific sector, with small, warm-cavity ice shelves contributing significantly to the total meltwater production. The study also highlights that high melt rates do not necessarily indicate thinning, as some ice shelves are in a state of mass balance. The findings suggest that ocean thermal forcing plays a crucial role in the melting of ice shelves, particularly in East Antarctica. The results provide a more accurate and detailed understanding of ice-shelf dynamics, which is essential for modeling and future studies on Antarctic ice sheet stability.The study by Rignot et al. (2013) examines the melting rates of Antarctic ice shelves and their contribution to the overall mass balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. By comparing volume flux divergence in 2007-2008 with surface accumulation and thinning data from 1979-2010, the researchers found that basal melting exceeds calving, making it the primary ablation process. The largest melt rates are observed in the Southeast Pacific sector, with small, warm-cavity ice shelves contributing significantly to the total meltwater production. The study also highlights that high melt rates do not necessarily indicate thinning, as some ice shelves are in a state of mass balance. The findings suggest that ocean thermal forcing plays a crucial role in the melting of ice shelves, particularly in East Antarctica. The results provide a more accurate and detailed understanding of ice-shelf dynamics, which is essential for modeling and future studies on Antarctic ice sheet stability.