An assessment of forward and inverse GIA solutions for Antarctica

In this work we assess the most recent estimates of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) for

Antarctica, including those from both forward and inverse methods. The assessment is based on a

comparison of the estimated uplift rates with a set of elastic-corrected GPS vertical velocities. These have

been observed from an extensive GPS network and computed using data over the period 2009–2014. We

find systematic underestimations of the observed uplift rates in both inverse and forward methods over

specific regions of Antarctica characterized by low mantle viscosities and thin lithosphere, such as the

northern Antarctic Peninsula and the Amundsen Sea Embayment, where its recent ice discharge history

is likely to be playing a role in current GIA. Uplift estimates for regions where many GIA models have

traditionally placed their uplift maxima, such as the margins of Filchner-Ronne and Ross ice shelves, are

found to be overestimated. GIA estimates show large variability over the interior of East Antarc tica which

results in increased uncertainties on the ice-sheet mass balance derived from gravimetry methods.